Auckland

Sarah Collins

Principal & Landscape Architect

Education

Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Lincoln College, New Zealand, 1977
Bachelar of Arts, University of Canterbury, 1975

Professional Affiliations

Fellow and Registered Landscape Architect, New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects

Profile

Sarah is experienced in a range of landscape and urban design work, in particular site planning, landscape management and stormwater management projects. Her landscape design work includes educational and other public institutions, subdivisions, reserve development and residential design. Her urban design work includes town centre and streetscape projects where community consultation has been a particularly important component.

She is valued as a member of multidisciplinary teams and has often worked in teams with engineers. She is also valued on project committees because she works well with other professions and is a good negotiator. She is skilled in consultation to facilitate design solutions that meet group and community needs.

Sarah has worked throughout New Zealand and overseas but has lived and worked in Auckland for the last 20 years, so she is very familiar with the wider Auckland area - its diverse range of environments and communities.

Expertise

Assessment of effects on the environment

Evaluating landscape and visual effects of projects and advising on mitigation as the basis for site/route selection, development planning and obtaining resource consents.

Landscape design

Conceptual design, master plan, detailed construction and planting design, schedules of quantity, specifications, contract documentation and costings.

Management plans

Prescribing long-term management policies and programmes for parks, reserves, river catchments and special resource areas such as sensitive and protected landscapes, heritage sites and conservation areas.

Open space planning and development

Concept planning and design of parks and open spaces in both rural and urban areas for educational, recreational and other uses.

Playground design

Creating play areas that reflect the individuality of the site and cater for a range of play experiences.

Public consultation

Working with communities, interest groups and stakeholders to facilitate discussion and positive outcomes through design and conflict resolution.

Site planning

Advising on site selection and providing functional site layouts that are creatively responsive to the special features of the site and the specific requirements of the client.

Subdivision design

Creating subdivision layouts including sections, open space and roading networks for high quality living environments.

Urban design

Designing urban environments to provide stimulating, attractive and functional places for people - city centres, streets and plazas, water fronts, shopping centres, community housing. Evaluating community views, pedestrian movement, built form, traffic and parking.