Celebrating World Landscape Architecture Month

April marks World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM) and this year’s theme, Landscape Architecture in Action, highlights how Landscape Architects create places that support health, resilience, and everyday life. From resort renovation and urban developments to national park conservation and wellness-led destinations, Landscape Architecture is integral to the experience of a place, and has a measurable impact on ecosystems, communities, businesses, and guests.

“We aim to create spaces that not only captivate the eye but also resonate deeply with the cultural and environmental contexts in which they exist. Every project is an opportunity to transcend expectations and create meaningful experiences that stand the test of time.” – Ashley Scott, Global Practice Principal, Planning + Landscape.

At Sharaan National Park in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, WATG was selected as master planner to lead a consortium of specialists ensuring that this 1,543 km² site is protected, its environment restored, and its wonders conserved. The master plan was developed in collaboration with international experts to restore the natural landscape of this fragile ecosystem and re-establish the rich diversity of plant and animal life, including the Nubian ibex, three species of gazelles, and the critically endangered Arabian leopard, which may be reintroduced to the area by 2030. The project lead, along with WATG’s senior landscape architect and conservation planner, were based in AlUla for six months, visiting the site frequently and working directly with RCU rangers, some of whom were born within the Reserve’s boundaries. As a result of this commitment to research, site investigation, and cultural immersion, Sharaan National Park was admitted to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Green List

At the other end of the scale, Limelight Boulder is a hotel built on a former brownfield site, once a gas station and parking lot, at the gateway to the University of Colorado. The courtyard fountain draws on the geometry of Colorado’s mountain rivers, translated through a series of waterfalls and cascading pools, while a trail of locally sourced flagstone and integrated boulders creates a pedestrian experience rooted in the Front Range landscape. The courtyard wall, articulated with vertical steel fins, creates a protective edge from the busy street while allowing glimpses inward to an urban sanctuary.

At Taj The Trees in Mumbai, indigenous vegetation was selected to integrate the hotel into its surroundings, creating a seamless flow between public and private spaces, and allowing the resort to sit within, rather than against, its environment. The result was a place which promotes connectivity and sense of place, and well as creating a sense of calm.

At Thanh Xuan Valley in Vietnam, the entire development is conceived as an eco-sensitive and wellness-focused retreat which positions landscape regeneration as the core value proposition. The design approach is shaped by the site’s dense pine tree forest and diverse system of water bodies, focusing on preserving the site’s natural terrain, fostering a strong sense of community, seamlessly integrating architecture with the landscape, and enhancing connectivity through walkability and outdoor living.

Working with Chiva-Som on their global brand standards for master planning and landscape architecture gave us the opportunity to embed these principles across multiple future sites. The process began at Chiva-Som Hua Hin in Thailand, their flagship, where we could develop an understanding of the brand’s history, evolution, and the core elements of its DNA. The result is a framework that embeds wellness across the guest journey: biodiversity-driven spaces, meditation gardens screened by lush local planting, outdoor viewing points, and aromatic or chromatic garden themes that draw on the culture of each new location.

The Mitsis Faliraki project brought a different ecological and cultural context – the Greek coast, where WATG’s integrated teams have worked on the renovation of multiple properties in the portfolio. Each site demanded close attention to Mediterranean climate conditions, water scarcity, and the use of materials that respect the regional landscape. A series of underutilized spaces were transformed into vibrant, dynamic hubs which decentralise activity, enrich guest choice, and create a multifaceted destination alive with energy, play, and serenity.

Before embarking on a project in Bodrum, our London landscape architecture team took an intensive six-day journey along Türkiye’s southern and western coast, exploring local nurseries, studying the region’s flora, growth patterns, and site conditions. Working alongside local experts, they examined how native plants have evolved to thrive in a constantly changing climate, and how that resilience could inform the design. Read more about their journey here.

At Zayed National Museum, our landscape team worked in close collaboration with the client to bring their vision to life, blending the local scenery with the striking architecture. This includes the creation of the Al Masar Garden, the external gallery of the museum, intended as a journey through the natural heritage of the UAE. Walking through the three zones – desert, oasis and urban – evokes the country’s ecological and cultural evolution.

“It has been a real privilege to help shape the landscape of the Zayed National Museum. This project holds profound cultural significance, and we approached it with great care and admiration for the legacy of Sheikh Zayed. Now that the museum is open, we are thrilled to see people experiencing the gardens as they were intended – as a living reflection of the UAE’s beauty and heritage.” – Dan Hinch, Managing Principal for Planning + Landscape EMEA

Nobu Hotel Los Cabos holds its character because the design respects the rugged Pacific coastline rather than softening it. That sense of dialogue between the built and the natural, and the hotel and its context, is what we’re working toward on every project, from a national park masterplan in Saudi Arabia to a hotel courtyard in Colorado.

There is an increasing amount of research which connects landscape design to health and wellbeing benefits. Toby Kyle, Associate Principal of Landscape Architecture at our Singapore office, recently published and article titled The Feel-Good Effect which explores the positive economic, environmental, and human effects of design. Each of four brain chemicals; endorphins (physical activity), dopamine (novelty/experience), oxytocin (social interaction), and serotonin (sunlight/nature) can be associated with particular design factors or characteristics: movement, new experience/enjoyment, socializing, and sunlight/nature.

Before, during and since the pandemic wellness-based commercial property development has been one of the fastest growing sectors. Both consumers and developers within the construction industry recognize how much our outside environment impacts both our physical and mental health. Projects like Umana Bali, LXR and Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve put these ideas into practice at different scales and in different cultural contexts. From foraging experiences embedded in the forest landscape at Rissai Valley, to the contemplative outdoor pavilions at Umana designed for what the Balinese call bale bengong, blank thinking, or doing nothing.

Sean Harry and Dan Hinch‘s conversation on the intersection of digital practice and landscape architecture explores how cutting-edge design technologies are reshaping both individual projects and the firm’s broader capabilities, with Dan’s dual expertise in planning and landscape architecture informing how these tools are applied to sustainability and environmental sensitivity.

The practical applications are already visible in how we approach site analysis, planting schedules, ecological modelling, and growth-cycle planning. Technology extends the range of questions a landscape architect can ask before committing to a design decision. The creative and ecological judgment that interprets that data still rests with the designer.

The theme for World Landscape Architecture Month 2026, Landscape Architecture in Action, sits comfortably alongside how we think at WATG. It’s about combining art and science to create healthy, connected, respectful and beautiful places that perform and endure. That description sits comfortably alongside how we think at WATG. We’d add that resilience requires honesty about the long-term conditions landscapes will face – climate, hydrology, ecological pressure, and the changing needs of the communities around it.

“It’s about creating spaces that nourish the human spirit and foster our connection with nature. We must design with empathy, listening to the needs of people, their communities, and the environment. Some of the most powerful landscapes are those that invite people in and make them feel they truly belong, while also enhancing the existing habitat.” – Dan Hinch, Managing Principal, Planning + Landscape