Kathryn Gustafson Lecture, Wellington

The Garden Design Society of New Zealand are delighted to be bringing globally renowned Landscape Architect Kathryn Gustafson to New Zealand and partnering with Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington to give an evening lecture at Te Kura Waihanga - Wellington School of Architecture.

Wellington lecture details:

Thursday 7th March, 5:00pm drinks and nibbles for 6pm formalities and lecture start.

Te Kura Waihanga - Wellington School of Architecture

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington

139 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington

Lecture Hall 1.  

Kathryn Gustafson is an internationally acclaimed landscape architect with over 40 years of distinguished practice. As founding partner of two international offices, Gustafson Porter + Bowman in London and until recently, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) in Seattle, Kathryn is renowned for creating distinctive sculptural landscapes which engage at a fundamental human level.

Kathryn brings a unique ability to define a project’s vision and conceives of all material as possessing organic qualities that respond to the seasons, as well as air, heat, sun and wind. Her form-making practice with terrain is all about movement and her work frames the art of landscape as a composition, combining complex elements both visible and otherwise, such as light, sound, and atmosphere. Her working method of modelling in clay enables her to create sensually pleasing and beguilingly simple landforms.

Kathryn’s work from both firms includes the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, Old Market Square in Nottingham, the Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, Seattle City Hall Plaza, the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the landscape design for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC. Kathryn’s current projects include the Eiffel Tower Site in Paris, a civic project in Senegal, and Taikoo Place in Hong Kong. These designs offer solace from the clamour of daily life as well as providing a unifying structure for the multi-layered requirements of the public realm.

Prior to establishing Gustafson Porter + Bowman in 1997, Kathryn worked in France where she was the lead landscape designer for the headquarters of Shell (1990), Esso (1992) and a model factory for L’Oréal (1993). Other significant works include the award-winning Jardins de l’Imaginaire in Terrasson la Villedieu (1995), which is classed by the French Ministry of culture as one of the most notable gardens in France. Her work at the public plaza in Evry (1991) was one of the first landscape projects worldwide to create a flexible space with water jets.

Kathryn lectures internationally and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architecture, an honorary Royal Designer for Industry member and a medallist of the French Academy of Architecture. She is the recipient of the Architects’ Journal Jane Drew Prize 1998, the 2001 Chrysler Design Award, the 2008 ASLA Design Medal, the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize for Architecture 2012 and the 8th Obayashi Prize, Japan in 2014. In 2011, Kathryn and her GGN partners received the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Landscape Architecture, in 2019 she was given the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award by the IFLA and in 2021 she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Notable architects collaborated with:

Renazca, Madrid, Spain – Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Taikoo Place, Hong Kong – Hugh Dutton Associates / Wong & Ouyang

Rathbone Place, London, UK – MAKE

Marina One, Singapore - Ingenhoven Architects

Museumpark Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands – OMA, MVRDV

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Wales – Foster + Partners

Robert And Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum And National Portrait Gallery (GGN project), Washington DC, USA  – Foster + Partners

Museum of Art, Boston, USA (GGN project) - Foster + Partners

Gree Sijing, Shanghai, China – RSHP

Sydney Bangaroo Waterfront, Sydney, Australia (GGN Project) - RSHP

UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, London, UK – Adjaye Associates

National Museum of African American History and Culture (GGN project) - Adjaye Associates

Sydney Modern Project - Expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (GGN project) – SANAA

Osaka Park  (GGN project) – SANAA

Notable projects include: Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, the Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, Seattle City Hall Plaza, the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the landscape design for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC. 

Kathryn’s current projects include; Site Tour Eiffel in Paris, a civic project in Senegal, Valencia Parque Central, Rhine Terrace at the Novartis Campus in Basel, Marina One in Singapore, and Taikoo Place in Hong Kong.

Lecture (Wellington) – Thursday 7th March,  5:00pm for 6pm start. 

Lecture Hall 1. Te Kura Waihanga - Wellington School of Architecture

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington

139 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington

Lecture: Crossing Connections and Breaking Boundaries

In this lecture, Kathryn Gustafson will explore how Landscape Architecture transcends conventional professional boundaries, serving as a pivotal force when designing and building amid global environmental concerns. By integrating principles of ecology, urban planning, architecture, art, engineering and design, landscape architects are able to influence and implement sustainable solutions that harmonize human needs with ecological imperatives, whilst always bringing a sense of joy. From green infrastructure to biodiversity conservation, this interdisciplinary approach fosters resilient and vibrant environments. 

Through case studies and insights from a life in practice, Kathryn will uncover the transformative potential of landscape architecture as the linchpin for forging a sustainable future amidst the complex challenges of urbanization and climate change.

Kathryn's talk will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets will include nibbles and drinks before the lecture, Kathryn's Lecture and Q&A and a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues. Students and staff of Victoria University Wellington can attend for free, but you must register for a free ticket.

CPD points available: 10 NZRAB CPD Points, 15 GDSNZ CPD Points, 1.0 NZILA CPD Points per hour

Running order:

5:00pm | Doors open, drinks and nibbles

6pm | Audience to be seated for welcome, introductions

6:15pm | Lecture, Q&A

Tickets available now via GDSNZ website to attend the lecture in person or watch the Auckland lecture online.  Discount codes available to GDSNZ financial members and NZILA / NZIA / RML and affiliated organisations. Several paid parking areas available nearby. Closest carpark is here.