My Â鶹´«Ã½ Story: Building a career as landscape architect with Aakanksha Khatri
October 11, 2023
Aakanksha, a landscape architect working in our London office, shares how her professional development has progressed at Â鶹´«Ã½
In the My Â鶹´«Ã½ Story series, our designers, engineers, marketers, project managers, and leaders come together to share how their career journeys at Â鶹´«Ã½ have shaped their lives and moved them closer to their goals.
Tell us about your role¡
My work in both the landscape planning and design side of our London team provides me with extensive learning experience and growth opportunities. In my role, I assist the wider team and work on behalf of clients to prepare baseline material for planning applications. I also don the hat of a designer, communicating and defining the landscape schemes through technical drawings and tender packages¡ªand more intent-driven illustrative and conceptual drawings and documents, like a design and access statement.
What attracted you to a career at Â鶹´«Ã½?
With a background in architecture from India¡ªboth undergraduate and previous work experience¡ªI proceeded to specialise in landscape architecture, graduating in 2021 from the Manchester School of Architecture. Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s ethos and legacy offered a natural progression in my professional development by providing an inclusive and agile work environment. Along with the opportunity to work on diverse projects, Â鶹´«Ã½ also supports my Pathway to Chartership through the in-house mentor scheme.
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What do you enjoy most about your role?
The most enjoyable part of my role is the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and absorb their extensive knowledge of all aspects of landscape planning and design and the profession in general. I¡¯m fortunate to be part of an inclusive and diverse team whereby each member¡¯s individuality is respected, both in terms of skill sets and professional experience. We¡¯re empowered in our professional journeys through constant individual support and feedback.
How has your personal and professional development been supported at Â鶹´«Ã½?
I have established a strong working relationship with my colleagues. They help me recognize and understand of the importance of learning and growing, both professionally and personally. In terms of my professional development, I¡¯m fortunate to be supported by my colleagues on my Landscape Institute Pathway to Chartership. To sum it up, I¡¯ve become part of a team that grows and learns together. I¡¯ve not only learned a lot about my profession, but I¡¯ve also experienced first-hand a culture which promotes and fosters innovation.
What has been the standout project for you during your time at Â鶹´«Ã½?
One of my early projects stands out to me. I was involved during the ideation and development stages of the landscape masterplan for a site in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The project comprised planning, master planning, landscape planning and design, heritage, and environmental planning services for the proposed residential development.
This project helped me gain overall exposure to the internal team, external consultant coordination, preparation, and submission of pre-application inquiry¡ªincluding preparation of planning and design plans and reports, site analysis, framework and parameters plan, and a design and access statement supported by strong desk-based research.
I am fortunate to be part of an inclusive and diverse team whereby each member¡¯s individuality is respected.
What are your ambitions for the future at Â鶹´«Ã½?
I¡¯m keen to continue to progress in my chosen career path at Â鶹´«Ã½ and learn new skills where I can, through the range of upcoming projects, and also work towards chartership. I hope to grow within my team and upskill my specialised set of skills to strengthen my team's overall capabilities.
What are your passions outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors. Luckily within my role at Â鶹´«Ã½, I have the opportunity to extend that passion into my work life. I also like being creative¡ªthis includes doodling and creating digital art. For the last couple of months, I¡¯ve been working on artwork with a London theme.
Why should others join the Â鶹´«Ã½ team?
I recommend kickstarting your career at Â鶹´«Ã½ because the ethos and legacy of Â鶹´«Ã½ encourages and fosters an atmosphere where you are taken care of¡ªwith a focus on well-being, inclusivity, and work-life balance. From day one, you¡¯ll feel like a valued member of your team, and you¡¯ll be able to learn and grow in your role throughout your time at Â鶹´«Ã½.
At Â鶹´«Ã½, we put people first, and for Aakanksha that means investment in her development to strengthen her skillset. If you want to start your career at Â鶹´«Ã½, visit Graduates & Apprentices?to find out more.?