February 2025 | BOTANY
SHAUNA GILLIES-SMITH
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE is KEY to CITIES
words Laura Cottrell
photos (1) Richard Mandelkorn, (2-3-4-5-6-7) Chuck Choi, (8) Trent Bell, (9) Millenium Partners Boston
Massachusetts-based landscape architecture studio Ground, led by Harvard-trained Shauna Gillies-Smith, creates playful and unexpected spaces defined by fluid curves and bright colors. The team believes that landscapes should spark moments of surprise and joy in public spaces and emphasizes that the success of urban landscapes depends on dynamic public engagement. “Well-designed outdoor spaces help us reconnect—with each other and with nature,” says Shauna Gillies-Smith, as she shares her thoughts with us.
What are the most important features to consider in the landscape design of public spaces in cities?
A key feature is creating spaces that accommodate various group sizes, allowing individuals to feel a sense of ownership, even if only for a short time. Plants, trees, and other natural elements play a crucial role in grounding people, offering a deeper connection to their surroundings. Public spaces should reflect the beauty and complexity of seasonal and temporal changes, fostering a greater awareness of nature and life beyond daily routines. This connection helps build a stronger sense of community and places people in touch with the broader world.
What are your priorities in landscape design at Ground?
When I transitioned from architecture to landscape architecture, it was because I wanted to create spaces that evoke joy and surprise—those moments when you turn a corner and discover something unexpected. At Ground, we aim to offer this experience in every project, regardless of the client or community. Our focus is on designing spaces that engage with the unique social and cultural context of each place. Our work is rooted in a dialogue with its surroundings, combining tried-and-true materials and strategies—often applied in unconventional, unexpected ways—to keep the experience fresh and relevant.
MIYAWAKI FORESTS ARE FASCINATING
"Trees, shrubs, and perennials play a very important role in our projects and offer much more than visual appeal" is your motto. This perspective aligns with the concept of the Micro Forest, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s. What are your thoughts? Do these microforests also help reduce the urban heat island effect?
Miyawaki forests are fascinating—they’re dense, miniature ecosystems designed to accelerate plant succession. By planting a diverse range of species in close proximity, these forests become powerful tools for promoting biodiversity. When it comes to mitigating the urban heat island effect, trees play a critical role: the denser the planting, the greater the cooling effect. While Miyawaki forests offer incredible ecological benefits, they are compact and can be difficult to move through. We are deeply interested in them and continuously seek ways to incorporate them into our projects. However, it is equally—if not more—important to integrate these principles into larger, more accessible public spaces, such as streetscapes, parks, and plazas. This approach ensures a meaningful impact both environmentally and in terms of public experience.
LANDSCAPE URBANISM HIGHLIGHTS NATURE’S VITAL ROLE IN CITIES
What does the future of landscape architecture look like? What can we expect in the near future?
Landscape architecture is becoming increasingly central to the design and planning of cities. The rise of landscape urbanism highlights the importance of nature in urban infrastructure, recognizing that landscapes are fundamental to a city's functionality and health. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for high-quality outdoor spaces, shaping how we approach landscape design moving forward. In the near future, I believe we will see a greater emphasis on landscapes that not only enhance urban spaces but also support habitats and pollinators. These spaces will be more complex, biodiverse, and deeply integrated into the social and environmental fabric of our cities.
THE GOAL IS TO BALANCE HUMAN AND WILDLIFE NEEDS
Some argue that parts of cities should be returned to wildlife. Do you think this is possible?
The feasibility of returning parts of cities to wildlife depends on the context, character, and scale of the landscape in question. While some animals can adapt to urban environments, others may struggle to coexist. It’s important to recognize that while we can’t fully revert urban spaces back to nature, we can design environments that support a diverse range of habitats within the urban fabric. The goal is to create spaces that balance human needs with those of wildlife, fostering coexistence in ways that are both practical and sustainable for all species involved.
