Liz Lake (Dip LA, FLI, Chartered Landscape Architect) – Director, Liz Lake Associates

As a child, I always wanted to be the person who designated the scenic routes and panoramic views on the Michelin road maps but it was not until a careers advisor suggested landscape architecture that I realized it was a proper job. After four years studying at Manchester Poly, I worked for three years in landscape practices in London on quarries, power stations, vehicle test tracks, housing and cemeteries.  I then had two years at the GLC Parks Department, a formative experience but one that directed me back to private practice. 

For six years, I worked at Travers Morgan Planning. Among a range of engineering projects, I was fortunate in working on the A55 North Wales Coast Road with a very creative, multi disciplinary team of architects, engineers, planners and ecologists. In 1985, I left to combine my own practice with a young family. Both have grown.

Liz Lake Associates is based in Stansted with 15 staff and now it is my turn to be setting up creative teams. Projects range from large scale landscape planning and development to smaller scale proposals in both the public and private sectors. My role now is to ensure that our work is technically proficient and answers the client’s brief.  We have won several awards for our pocket parks and we now have an established reputation in the profession.

I have become involved in the education of landscape architects and am chair of the Landscape Design Trust.  I enjoy these activities and the business of running a practice but best of all is helping a client to solve a technically difficult problem, with a creative solution that is good for the landscape.  However, I am still waiting for that call from Michelin.

For more information, visit www.lizlake.com

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