Landsite is a Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Site Planning and Environmental Project Management company, providing consultant services to a range of public and private clients including developers, local government, public utility, community and environmental groups.

Landsite’s award winning Principal, Darren Taitoko, brings over three decades of experience in the design, implementation and project management of landscape architecture, urban design and environmental rehabilitation projects at state and national level.

Darren and the rest of our team thrive on working across a varied range of projects. From high density urban, medium and standard density suburban and low density rural and rural residential projects, commercial estates, water sensitive urban design, preparation and implementation of urban design guidelines, through to the rehabilitation of degraded rural and urban waterways and wetlands.

While our head office is based in the beautiful surrounds of Byron Bay, current Landsite projects cover the eastern states of Australia, including Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Darren Taitoko RLA
Darren Taitoko RLA
Director

Darren brings over thirty years of award-winning experience in the design, implementation and project management of urban design, landscape architecture and environmental rehabilitation projects at state and national level.

His expertise ranges from high density urban, medium and standard density suburban and low density rural and rural residential projects, water sensitive urban design, preparation and implementation of urban design guidelines (Residential and commercial settings), public art strategies and the rehabilitation of degraded rural and urban waterways and wetlands.

In 2017 Darren was the recipient of a “National Parks and Wildlife Service Award - NSW” in recognition and appreciation of his contribution to the Northern Rivers Regional Advisory Committee and National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Darren is also a Project Director with Creative Road (Public Art Curators and Consultants), drawing upon his experience in the planning and implementation of public art strategies as well as extensive experience in the commissioning of public art as part of large-scale landscape and urban design projects.

Qualifications: Master of Landscape Architecture - University of Melbourne. 1992 Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) - Victorian College of Agriculture & Horticulture (Burnley) 1987 Registered Landscape Architect - AILA. (No. 749)

Blanka Sparovec RLA
Blanka Sparovec RLA
Senior Landscape Architect
After spending four years in North Queensland and six years in Canberra, Blanka brings to Landsite her wide-ranging experience across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Slovenia. Blanka’s unique multicultural perspective informs her designs to be intrinsically enmeshed within their environmental context.

As a senior landscape architect, Blanka has extensive experience in stakeholder management, as well as the production of Landscape Design and Documentation, Landscape Construction, Landscape Detailing, Urban Design, Urban Development, Master Planning, Landscape Planning, Landscape Management Plans, Vegetation Assessment and Tree Management Plans.

Blanka has considerable experience in the master planning, design and environmental rehabilitation plans for tourism projects in Townsville, Palm Island and the Whitsunday Region.

Qualifications:

Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (2008)

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (2004)

Advanced Diploma in Industrial Design, School for Design & Photography, Slovenia (1996)

Registered Landscape Architect AILA
Luke Stepto
Luke Stepto
Senior Landscape Architect

With 14 years’ of professional experience Luke’s broad skillset sees him working on projects ranging from master planned communities, commercial open space design, high end residential design, aged care and native ecology restoration and rehabilitation.

Luke has considerable experience in preparing conceptual design packages, detailed design documentation along with extensive experience in contract administration. He has project experience in QLD, NSW & VIC.

His early passion for endemic flora and natural ecological systems has seen a focus on using good urban design to connect people back to the natural environment and to keep communities connected through creative open space design within our urban environments.

Luke understands the importance of Landscape Architecture’s role in bridging the gap between built from and natural systems, and the importance of this connection for our physical and mental wellbeing.

QUALIFICATIONS

Diploma of Horticulture , Grovely Horticulture Campus, Bachelor of the Built Environment (Landscape Architecture), Queensland University of Technology, Graduate Diploma of Landscape Architecture, Queensland University of Technology

Michele Pegolo
Michele Pegolo
Graduate Landscape Architect
Michele has obtained a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from his home country of Italy and his studies have provided him with an extensive agronomical understanding.

On his university pathway, Michele was involved in different projects including Railway conversions, Hospital upgrades, City park designs and Urban vacuum recoveries. He believes that well designed green spaces are integral to a well-planned residential area and they can be both beautiful and practical. Local identity should always be closely considered and reflected in landscape interventions for the best outcomes for both the environment and the community who move within it.

As a graduate Landscape Architect, Michele enjoys Landsite’s collaborative approach. He enjoys the process of designing green spaces and see them growing from the first concept sketches to the more technical drawings of construction documentation and details.

Qualifications Masters of Landscape Architecture - University of Genoa, Italy, 2015 Bachelor of Town, Regional & Environmental Planning - University of Padua, Italy, 2011
Jenny Gallo
Jenny Gallo
Graduate Landscape Architect
Jenny specialises in landscape restoration, enhancement and design. She has a specific focus on merging local history with modernism and incorporating elements of a site’s natural surroundings.

Jenny is passionate in designing spaces that encourage human connections to the surrounding environment, while maintaining or restoring as much of the natural heritage of the site as possible. She understands that local identity can’t be forgotten when designing new developments and green areas, but it needs to be integrated to the new spaces and recognisable by local residents.

Jenny also loves the idea of a balanced ecosystem between natural environment and artificial elements, where the seconds sit in the nature without compromising its stability and look. Another point of interests is the role of the outdoor spaces for mental health and well-being, especially when related to elderly and hospitalised people.

Qualifications Masters of Landscape Architecture - University of Genoa, Italy, 2015 Bachelor of Town, Regional & Environmental Planning - University of Padua, Italy, 2011
Mila Medeiros
Mila Medeiros
Graduate Architect, Landscape Design
Milagros (Mila) is a highly dedicated professional architect, originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, with experience in residential architecture, landscape and interior design.

Her well-rounded skillset and passion for the natural environment brings a valuable balance to the Landsite team with experince in both commercial and residential projects in Australia and overseas. Her attention to detail is an asset when creating plans, detailed design and construction drawings.

In every stage of her work, Mila constantly strives to bring a creative and thorough approach to her work, resulting in high quality design outcomes, that benefit both the environment and community.

Qualifications Project Management - IHBC Australia 2020, Landscaping Certificate - Lorena Ponce de Leon, Urguguay 2018, Architecture Degree, Universidad ORT, Uruguay 2016.
Patricia Morrison
Patricia Morrison
Project Landscape Architect
Patricia (Trish) is a multi-award-winning landscape architect who has been involved in a diverse range of landscape projects including high end residential, high-rise apartments and public open space.

Trish’s passion for landscape has been fostered by her extensive experience both in Australia and New Zealand and her personal commitment to continually help create landscapes that focus on beautiful, meaningful, and engaging spaces that respond to individual sites, natural processes and our every day human needs.

Trish enjoys working as part of a collaborative team, aiming to deliver projects in a timely and efficient manner.

Trish has been recognised for her work by the Ellerslie International Flower Show, wining bronze medals in 2013 and 2014. After her second win at Ellerslie International Flower Show in 2014, Trish received a Department of Landscape Architecture Award from Unitec Institute of Technology for promotion of her discipline. Trish was also awarded a gold medal at the Melbourne International Flower Show in 2019. Her work has been featured in The Auckland Harbour News, Earthstyle Magazine and Outdoor Design & Living Magazine.

Trish enjoys working as part of a collaborative team, aiming to deliver projects in a timely and efficient manner.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture - Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2016

Diploma Landscape Design - Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2013

Neroli Schutt
Neroli Schutt
Marketing Manager
Neroli has over 20 years experience in marketing communications, brand management and online marketing across a broad range of industries including financial services, IT, professional sport, gaming, urban planning and Landscape Architecture.

Roles as an in-house marketing manager and as a marketing consultant, gives Neroli the expertise to view brands, organisations and challenges with a holistic, integrated view and the ability to channel creative ideas into targeted, implementable marketing strategies

Her role at Landsite is to manage the company’s public marketing brand, across online media and assist with marcomm support for business development, within the regional context.