When planning a new school or community play space, one of the first questions many people ask is: “Do we need a landscape architect, or should we just go straight to a playground equipment supplier?”
While both have a critical role in creating play spaces. The approach, outcomes, and value they provide are quite different services.
What happens when a team genuinely commits to learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures? At Orterra, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) journey has changed not just how we work but who we are. This is more than a workplace initiative. It’s a personal and collective transformation rooted in listening, learning and respect.
Discover how nature play transforms school environments by promoting creativity, resilience, and a lifelong connection with nature. Learn how schools can integrate natural elements into play spaces to enhance learning and sustainability.
From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Backyard Landscape Ideas You’ll Love
Your backyard is more than just a patch of grass; it’s an extension of your home and can be transformed into a personal oasis. Whether you’re looking to create a space for entertaining, relaxation, or family activities, there are endless possibilities to design a backyard that suits your needs and reflects your style. Here are some creative backyard landscape ideas to help you transform your outdoor space.
From One Call to a Career in Landscape Architecture. What followed was what Debbie calls a “mid-uni crisis.” On her mum’s advice — and without a smartphone to Google options — she turned to a career quiz and the Yellow Pages. The quiz pointed to landscape architecture, a field she’d never heard of. Taking a leap, she closed her eyes, pointed to a listing, and made a call. It changed everything.
More than 20 years later, Debbie is the founding director of Orterra, a Brisbane-based landscape architecture practice.
n a world of rising screen time and academic pressure, outdoor play offers children and teens a vital connection to nature—boosting mental health, fostering resilience, and supporting emotional well-being through movement, creativity, and social interaction.
Here in Brisbane and across South East Queensland our beautiful hill and valley landscape requires thorough consideration of retaining walls and their critical role in landscape and engineering design. They provide structural support and help to manage soil erosion on our slopes and uneven terrain. A frequently overlooked aspect in retaining wall design is the adequate provision of soil volumes necessary for planting. The availability of sufficient soil volume is vital for plant health, aesthetic appeal, and long-term stability. This blog delves into the key issues associated with soil volumes around retaining walls, and how they influence landscape and engineering decisions.
Located in Red Hill, Brisbane, this family home project was designed with the primary goal of creating a garden that would evolve alongside the family, offering versatile, functional spaces that connect the new home’s interior and exterior. The client’s brief was clear: a garden that harmonized with the character of the new home, embraced a sub-tropical aesthetic, and provided a usable, dynamic outdoor space that could be enjoyed throughout the family’s growth and stages of life.
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