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澳派景观/景观设计/城市设计/以人为本

ASPECT Studios / Landscape Design / City Design / People-oriented Design

-全文共9459个字，阅读时间大约20-30分钟-

澳派名声享誉国际，项目多次获得国际奖项与认可。澳派为我们提供了一个可以专注于设计本身的平台，一个可以通过设计自由表达的平台，让每一个参与其中的人都成为设计世界的一部分。正是因为这样的平台，让澳派的每一个人都充满着想象与激情，全情的致力于城市空间的发展满足人们对空间不断变化的需求，而这与我的想法非常一致，我可以将多年的知识储备与经验注入这个充满创造力和探索精神的工作室；另外一方面，澳派有着非常完善的针对每一个人的学习计划，除了支持他们参与每个项目，也可以有更多机会去表达自己的设计理念，为每一个员工提供成长的机会。

ASPECT Studios has a great reputation both internationally and across China, with many projects gaining international acclaim and recognition. For myself, ASPECT Studios provided a real studio; non-corporate design focused and design led environment with a platform that supports collective and individual creativity. There is opportunity for each individual to express themselves through design and to be part of a bigger group that shares an aligned vision and purpose. I found that ASPECT Studios and the leadership team I joined shared the same values, vision, passion, and drive for developing urban spaces that respond in a balanced innovative way to both human and environmental needs and challenges. It was a perfect fit for me and gave the opportunity to bring my years knowledge and experience to a creative, learning and exploratory studio.   ASPECT Studios is a great platform for our staff. Each of our team members have the opportunity to develop their skills and to express themselves individually and collectively.

△工作状态下的Stephen Buckle

△ Stephen Buckleunder working condition

世界上享有盛名的设计公司有很多，他们的一些作品也让我倾慕已久。但澳派的独特之处就在于虽然它是一个全球性的平台，但在设计与运行过程中坚持自身的公司文化。其实很多公司都是多向发展的，但是我们100%专注于景观设计，并将其作为所有设计思考和方法的基础，让场地、环境与文化成为每个项目的起点；还有很重要的一点就是我们的设计理念非常注重人与景观空间之间产生的互动体验感，我们所有设计的出发点及所打造的空间都是聚焦于人，以人为中心强调与空间的紧密互动性，让人们可以参与进来，为他们创造记忆，通过功能来实现人们的生活方式的创新，通过探索创造出贴近他们想要的空间体验感。

There are many other reputable and talented landscape design firms in the world, some of which who’s work I have admired over the years.  I think one of the things that is unique to ASPECT Studios is while we have multiple studios globally, we retain the studio culture within the way we operate and the work we do. As a lot of companies have multiple disciplines, like urban design, architecture, interior and landscape. We are particularly focused on the profession of landscape architecture as the basis of our thought process and approach to all our design work, letting the site, environment and culture be the starting point of each project’s journey. Within each commission we apply principles that are heavily focused on the human experience and interactions with each other, creating social spaces but with the environment to ensure sustainable solutions. The kind of place and design solutions we generate are people-oriented spaces that people can engage with and give them fond memories.

△ASPECT Studios上海工作室

△ASPECT Studios-Shanghai Office

25年前，澳派创始人 Chris Razzell 先生创立了澳派景观设计工作室， 13年前在中国深圳成立了澳派的中国事务所，之后公司迁移到了上海。可以说我们初期做的一些项目为我们后期的发展打下了很好的基础，让我能够在过去的五年中将公司发展壮大。一些标志性项目在今天依然还被认可，例如万科重庆西九广场和广州西塔这样的项目。这些实践经历为我们的市场奠定了很好的基础，给中国的景观项目带来新鲜的活力与生机， 这也使我们有别于其他设计公司，能更好的致力于做出更有针对性的创新设计。

Chris Razzell founded ASPECT Studios in Melbourne over 25 years ago. He had commenced working in Shenzhen China over 13 years ago and, shortly after relocating to Shanghai. I think the work that was done in the early days created the strong foundation for our current recognition - a foundation has provided me the opportunity to build upon and grow over the last 5 years. Some of the signature projects from the early days are still well referenced and recognized today. Still holding strong, our projects in Chongqing and Guangzhou, really set the foundation for the unique and recognizable type of design we bring to the Chinese market. Our designs can bring a fresh, engaging and dynamic energy to the general landscape offerings in China which we believe differentiates us from the general pack. We want to bring a fresh look and a more targeted approach to the resulting urban environments we touch.

△万科重庆西九广场

△Xijiu Plaza Vanke Chongqing

△广州西塔

△West Tower Guangzhou

景观永远是最重要的（Steve笑称），每个部分都有它应有的作用。建筑设计可能会非常纯粹的致力于场地边界、体量、形式、功能与立面的设计，但我们的视角可能是更多的从全局出发，考虑如何将景观设计更好的造福环境、融于我们赖以生存的土地、将文化符号融入设计的过程，将各种不同的元素联系起来，真正的做到景观、建筑、城市的“融会贯通”。

Landscape is always right (Stephen jokes), no I appreciate the importance and value each discipline bring to a project and the role each needs to play. I think one of the important factors that our profession brings is a design perspective dealing with things from a strategic level to the minute detail.  An appreciation and sensitivity of the earth that we inhabit and the environment in which we live, to the cities and cultures and contexts that influence and guide our design. Nothing we do is in isolation. Every aspect of landscape and landscape urbanism deals with connections and interfaces, from cultural to construction. Often, architecture alone can become focused on the boundaries of the site and the mass, form, gesture, function, elevation and the facades of the built form. Our role as landscape architects is be the connection. We are the ‘Glue’ within a city what grounds and connects each building, space and tree to everything else. Landscape connects to all multiple different components, and as such has a leading role to play in the creation of a successful urban environment.

中国随着城市化大规模的迅猛发展，精心设计的城市规划也会不断的跟进完善，必然会刺激经济的加速发展。过去，河流是重要的联结点，大多数的城市都是依水而建，然后慢慢成为文化经济中心。随着时间的推移，以前的村庄、城镇已进化成现今的大都市。

I think it's essential. With the massive urbanization growth that's going on, particularly in China, the combination of well-planned urban development and stimulating the economy is fundamental. And you'll see it as the roadmap for future cities. Historically rivers were the connectors, and towns and villages naturally appeared and grew at the networks of these rivers. Now they have become the centers cultural and economic exchange - what started in the past as small villages, towns are now the mega cities of today.

如今的都市丛林里，交通与基础设施取代了河流，组成了纵横交错的连接网。公路、铁路和地铁如江河一般在每座城市内部串联起新的活力。 所以我们在公路、地铁和火车站的周边将这些交通枢纽相互连接，它们是未来城市的重要组成部分，是城市中重要的新区域节点。在这个节点基础上很重要的一点是我们会非常注重复合功能的使用发展。未来，这里的住宅、零售、购物中心、办公室等空间都会是独立又复合的，通过不同的组合为城市带来源源不断的活力。因此，我们所注重的不是个体功能而是复合功能，这些功能的实现都是深深植根于生活方式的理念，人们如何生活，不同类型的人需要怎样的空间，而空间又需要如何回应这些人？一天中的不同时间，一周中的不同时间，一年中的不同时间，对于不同的年龄组，是需要通过项目的全生命周期不同组合来展示的。

Today, within cities these connections are built in similar ways. But rather than rivers, transport and infrastructure now form these networks. Areas where we have roads, rail and metro connections are now the modern day riverbanks and have become the new vibrant hearts of exchange within each city.

Recognizing these and their role, and more importantly how to respond to them is an essential part of making balanced cities of the future. Complex mixed used and TOD developments by their nature respond to the diverse needs of these new district nodes. We had the opportunity to be involved in many of these specialist complex developments, focusing on the mixed-use philosophies. They are key to the economic success of an area, and it’s our role to ensure that we balance this with the social, cultural and environmental success as well. Multi programmed, cohabiting mixed-use projects create vibrancy and energy to the urban environment. Our design is not so much focused on the individual functionality but the collective multi-functionality which grows deeply from the idea of accommodating to diverse lifestyles. People need to use space –  to live, work and play at different times of the day, the week, the year and across all age groups. The space respond to people’s needs over commercial needs.

人们集聚而居，这样就为城市带来了活力，创造了生活，从而吸引更多人的加入，而人会带动经济。所以如何让这个有机“生态圈”更好的循环我们需要思考的，而不仅仅为了美观。这是一个关于建筑、生活方式、景观、环境之间的结合，为的是带来活力、能量，并最终让人们走向成功。

And it's that vibrancy and focus on people, which generates the hustle and bustle that bring people together. In turn the result is an economic success with long term sustained developments.

It isn't just about creating a beautiful statement or a visual object. And it’s certainly not about focusing on the how much people are expected to enjoy a view of a shop front or façade to support initial unit rentals. It’s about the collaborative connection between architecture, lifestyle, landscape, context, culture and a balance of humanistic experiences that all come together to bring that vibrancy, life and energy attracting people, engaging them to stay longer and bringing long term success.

我们在项目开始前期会深入的了解当地文化并去探讨实现以人为本可持续性的可能性。每个地区、每个项目都有其特定的人群和文化特征,人们对于空间的反应，对空间的认知都是不同的，所以在项目之初我们都会通过了解当地的文化习俗去深入理解生活在这里的人们的需求。就像中国的南北文化差异的不同，对于我们来讲了解这一点很重要，因为这不仅是对人的理解，更是将人作为设计的一部分。只有理解需求的差异性与个性化才能更好的进行下一步设计。

So one of the processes we go through at the start of the project is to dig into the cultural aspects of a certain area, district, city or region. Each site, each project has its own people, these people have their own unique culture, and as such use and respond to space differently. Just like the numerous differences between cities in China's, North, South, east west cultures, individual cities cultures districts and so on. And it's important for us to really dig into that, not just only understanding of who, but to know what's going to engage with these people as  part of the design, so we will look at the demographic of different age groups, different ages of people, and different types of people and what they are doing in these spaces. And we use that like a road map to help this program and design, that functionally works.

另一方面是给人们的生活带来一些新的、独特的东西以此来激励人们。我们在设计过程中会寻找些参考或灵感作为我们设计过程中的指导，会把我们从以前做过的事情中带向一些我们从未想过的新鲜事物，这是我们在每个项目中都会努力去做的。每个项目都有其独特的故事，我们的工作就是让故事成真。

Another aspect is to inspire to bring something new and unique into people's lives. Within our design process, we look to extract out some references or inspirations. It will give us a narrative to guide through the design process - something that will be that mechanism to move us away from doing what's been done before to something new and fresh. And that is what we try aspire to do on every project. Every project has its own story to tell. It's our role to make the story of each design to have authenticity, integrity relevance that connects with people in a meaningful way.

△武汉金地· 中法仟佰汇

△One City Development Gemdale Wuhan

去年早些时候完成的“武汉金地· 中法仟佰汇”项目，就是一个关于文化传承、鼓舞人心的作品。场所通过开放空间与环境的相互交融，多维度绿化设计，塑造时尚与活力的城市客厅。在整个多维度设计中，关注当地文化，考虑人的需求，为人们创造一个成功的城市环境。客户与设计师都期望可以创造出成功的场所，在这个过程中需要有协商并找到平衡。客户需要有可用于商业活动的功能空间，我们就设计了一个多功能的更以社区为中心的空间。同时我们也为空间使用者们设计了一些小尺度的、更亲密的空间，以满足他们对多样化体验、规模、空间的需求。

The design framework of the One City Development Gemdale Wuhan, (recently completed earlier this year), was to create something that was both engaging and visually inspiring. But at the same time, we have many different elements pulling us in different directions. These relate to the culture of the space, the development and its people, not just what's famous in Wuhan, etcetera. It is about what the client wants to achieve and what we need to achieve as designers to facilitate a successful urban environment for the people. So, there's a balance and negotiations that goes on between the client, designer and our attempts to create a successful place. Upon reviewing the client's requirements for extensive functionality with some areas for big promotion, we developed a brief with a multifunctional, more community-focused space. Recognizing people’s need for more diversity of experience, scale and place, we developed smaller and more intimate areas to bring balance to the space.

因此，我们的角色是试图把这些结合在一起，并对一些文化元素做出独特的回应。我们以凤凰羽翼为设计元素，让人们飞进不同的空间，通过项目与他们一起实践。对我们来说非常重要的是，每一个空间中的每一个节点都能形成不同的风格、营造不同的气氛。从大的聚集空间到最小的空间，人们可以在这里享受午休的时光、孩子们可以在这里玩耍，使之成为一个生气勃勃、充满活力的地方，让空间内的人可以有机的融合与互动，也可以在周末的时候在这里补充生活的能量。

Our role was to try and pull these together with an overlay that factors in a way that responds uniquely to some of the cultural elements. We used the narrative and idea of the phoenix in flight and a conceptual fluidity of energy throughout the site connecting a number of unique experience nodes and spaces. What was really important for us was to ensure that while unified, each node played with a different character, atmosphere and experience. From larger gathering spaces to the smallest spaces; to places where people can breakout informal meetings at lunchtime; to  places where it can be lively and vibrant and children can play. Bringing energy and life at the all times.

所以我们希望创造的空间是一个可以兼顾多年龄层次不同需求的空间，让空间时刻保持活力。有适合儿童的戏水游戏的空间，提供一个可以给孩子在暑假玩乐的泳池或是一片树荫，这样父母还可以在一旁享受野餐时光。同时如果在这附近工作，也可以作为一个午休放松的空间，让空间内的人们有机的融合、互动。在设计中，我们开发了一系列社交座椅墙。我们特意将每面墙的位置和长度进行定位、成型和制作，以在潜意识中引导游客的移动，同时让人们放下手机，从而鼓励真正的社交。边缘之间的相互作用旨在使人们“物理上”走得更近：鼓励社交互动，提供与周围环境接触的机会，并建立有意义的相互联系。

我认为在中国做设计的过程是很享受的，因为它不是一个不被打扰、冷漠的分析过程，而是一个交互的、参与性极高的创造过程，而且很多时候还能在过程中进行二次创作。我们也很希望他们能发现所处空间的更多趣味或可能性吧。

We used this multifunctional approach of using elements such as water play where the children in the summer months can cool down from the heat. They can be under the shade of the trees, get wet, have fun, bringing noise, sound and action. All the while parents are enjoying lunch or dinner, comfortable in the shade overlooking their children play. During the week that feature can takes on a new life, one that is of an elegant anserine. The water play becomes a reflective water feature and centerpiece to the commercial office environment. And you get this play between the multi-functionality allowing the space to work for all.

Within the design we developed a series of sweeping social seating walls. We deliberately positioned, formed and crafted each wall position and length to subconsciously guide the visitor’s movement and at the same time take people away from their smart phones and encourage real social exchange. The interplay between edges has been designed with the intent of bringing people physically closer together: encouraging social interaction, providing the opportunity to engage with their surroundings and create meaningful connections with each other.

It's a fun project. The thing I like most about designing in China is the fun that we have here in the studio developing and studying the design. It’s a far cry from the sterile, cold and analytical process. It's creative, funny and engaging process. Hopefully that’s what it comes to in the final designs.

△武汉金地· 中法仟佰汇

△One City Development Gemdale Wuhan

创作灵感的获取过程是非常个人化的，对于设计者而言这就像是一个人的沙漠之行，与市场营销无关。在设计之初，我们会亲自去了解关于项目的社会及文化环境，通过对这些的事物的了解来指导我进一步的设计。我们更多的会从中寻找一些独特或抽象的符号来做为设计的向导，融入在色彩、纹理等一些细节中，提升整体的完成度与品质感，从而创造一种从未有过的环境体验。

I think it's a very personal journey but also a collective journey, one that I strive to install in our designs and everything we do. Contrary to local belief, it's not a marketing tool. The idea of inspiration is nothing to do with marketing, while it does and can have connections to it. For me it's a personal journey for each designer. We always engage with the location and culture were designing at the beginning of all of our projects by visiting the site and experience the cultures and the environments that we are designing in - areas that are relevant to that society, that community and use these influences to guide us through the design.  We look to try and find something that's a bit more unique or abstract that can be be used as a guide throughout the project. And it's important that it's not just just a movement or gesture. It has to be capable of influencing all decisions in the design, colors, finishes, textures, qualities, character and atmosphere of these areas. And we use those in a creative way to design something that strives to be unique -  create something that's not been experienced before.

这是完成一个项目的基础过程，我经常称之为“一段旅程的两部分”。第一部分是对项目选址地区进行非常实用的分析，包括它的文化背景、经济基础、地理环境等，这些因素都影响着设计整体的完成度。旅程的第二部分是更具创造性和艺术性的方法，我们将把前期的分析作为一个叙事来看待，通过灵感来帮助我们创造一种更独特的景观体验。

It’s one of the fundamental processes that we go through. I like to think there are two initial journeys as I like to call it. The first journey is a very functional and thorough analysis of the site, its context, its function, how it needs to work, what are the nuts and bolts that we need to achieve? Scale, space, orientation, position, sunlight, wind, population - all these components are analyzed to make it successful and functional project. The second part of the journey is the more creative and maybe more artistic approach, where we will look at these as a narrative, with inspirations to help guide us to create a more unique landscape experience.

中国的设计不同于世界其他地方的设计。在中国，设计师必须要能够真正控制设计质量的能力，一旦进入施工状态从施工图纸、现场检视、地下工程质量检测等执行的所有细节，他都必须有能力去控制。而且中国有着有别于其他国家的验收方式，对于设计师而言必须要充分的理解才可以。

It’s a good question. Designing in China is different than designing elsewhere in the world. The ability for the designer to truly control the quality of the design once it goes into the construction - the construction drawings phase, site inspection, the process of checking the quality of the underground construction as well as the materials and finishes is very different to the approach undertaken in the UK or in Australia, or even in the Middle East.

当然这也就带来了挑战。所以大概在八九年前我初来中国的时候就学会了，设计的过程是一个全思维的过程，在设计的过程中不仅要考虑到设计的创新性还要考虑到设计的落地性和可行性。这样做有助于利用当地市场现有的建筑能力、技术和材料，创造可建造的坚固设计。但是不能让这些新技术和材料方面的探索限制我们的创意。

And that comes with challenges. There some things I have learned very early, like when I first came to China, eight or nine years ago, is that you need to bring that into your thought process when you're designing. You can't just bring the applications you considered elsewhere in the world and expect they'll be implemented correctly. Doing that helps form robust design that are buildable, using the materiality and the techniques of the building capability of the local market. That said it shouldn't hamper the creativity and the ongoing study and consideration of new technologies and materials.

所以这也正是我们需要攻克的难题，我们会试着把它分解，使用一些可行的施工技术，最终会以一种兼顾创造性和落地性的方式呈现出来。所以无论是施工方还是设计方，在项目工程中都面临着各种挑战。客户在很多时候希望用他们的想法来影响整个设计进程。我们需要花很长时间来沟通我们所做设计决策背后的基本原理、逻辑和原则。在会议中，当我们坚持想深化我们的想法时，我们并不惧怕说“不”。我认为，协作是功课难题中最重要的一个部分。在协作的过程中加入来自不同团队的知识、信息和背景是非常重要的。及早与所有顾问、施工方和供应商接触，提供了解决方案和考虑因素，我们需要根据这些来制定正确的设计方向。

We get into a design and we try and break things down and use some feasible construction techniques, but in a creative way to support a unique end result. So that's on the construction side. On the design side, there are challenges with some project processes. There are a lot of layers within client teams these days. Some of the larger clients have multiple layers from project manager to project director to landscape director to the CEO. And to be frank, a lot of these people think that they’re designer and will try to influence their ideas heavily into the design process. And we're quite blunt, okay, they employ us to undertake the design for the project. So quite often we’ll need to go to great lengths to communicate the rationale, logic and principles behind the design decisions we have made. And we’re not afraid to use the word “No” in meetings, when we'll be developing up some ideas. There's a lot of knowledge, information and background that comes from the different teams involved and it is important to welcome this into the collaborate process. I think collaboration is the most important part to resolve project challenges. Having early engagement with all consultants, contractors and suppliers provides tools and considerations that we need to be able to develop the design in the right direction. We find our clients often think they know what they want until we have completed the design process. That is when they can really see what a project could be, exceeding their initial expectations.  

我们在其中还要扮演一个中间的角色，去平衡艺术和商业之间的关系。客户可能最关心的是市场需求，而我们最关心的是人的需求。所以很多项目虽然是由商业出发，但最终我们还是会努力把落脚点回归于人。

But that's kind of the art of what we do - getting the balance between understanding the commercial, marketing and architectural needs to the bigger client brand’s needs, what they're looking to achieve from the project and merging that all together with what we want to do which has a strong focus on the people. So we do come across this crossroads where some projects can be very commercially driven, particularly for mixed use projects, but we approach it with a humanistic point of view.

不同的出发点经常就会导致一些摩擦。当然我们从不排斥，有摩擦也就会有沟通，有沟通会更好的了解对方的想法。客户与我们并非是对立的关系，我们会为每一个项目去争取最大化的满足客户的需求，但也不会忘记以人为本的出发点。因为我们觉得这是这个时代设计者和开发者都应去承担的责任。

And that causes what's the right word, a “friction’. But it’s a ‘good friction. One that helps generate different results with different ideas and solutions. Some projects, they (the client) might be thinking, we need to see the façade, we need to see the elevation, we need to see every shop front, no trees, no shade. We the designers don’t want people to be inside. However the friction between that and our human focused attention do create interesting solutions. We know there's going be a balance. We have a duty as designers and developers in this day and age.

城市的拥挤和超负荷运作已经严重的压榨了公共空间的尺度范围。没有通常意义下的开放公共空间，大部分都只是几个公园零星散布在城市各处。但实际上作为设计者和开发商是有责任为城市中的人提供一个可以社交、体现他们生活方式的空间。而不仅仅是走出去就要消费的场所，这不是钱的交换而是社会的交换，这也正是我们在做每一个项目的出发点。

The cities are so crowded, busy and overloaded. There's no access to meaningful public open spaces - only a few parks dotted around the city. Actually, as developers and designers, we have a responsibility to society and the culture that we design in to provide places that are much more than before. Places where people can come together, live out their lives, meet new friends, socialize and live their lives on a daily basis within these environments. It's not just a space to walk through to go inside and spend money. It's not about a place for ‘money exchange’, it’s about ‘social exchange’. And that is fundamental to every project that we touch.

△WFC 南信控股青岛环球金融中心

我们会全程参与，在前期我们与LDIs(当地设计院)以及上海、广州、深圳等地的其他几家公司的合作伙伴对施工图纸进行了详细的审查。这个过程很重要因为我们会在每一个图纸上做出标记、提出相应的修改意见以确保项目的完整性和准确性，确保这些比一个漂亮的渲染图重要的多。

Such an important factor!! We undertake what a detailed review of the construction drawings we work in collaboration with LDIs (Local Design Institute) and other companies across our sites in Shanghai, down in Guangzhou, Shenzhen - all over the place. And it's an important process that we go through where we will mark up every drawing. We will cover it in red pen if we need to. We will make suggestions and alterations to ensure the integrity of what we set out in the beginning is retained and realized. The design, the big vision and the strong concept follows through into those construction drawings. So that's the first stage. And that's so important to me. It doesn't matter if we've done a beautiful concept design or a sexy render, it means nothing if it isn’t built with the correct attention.

进入施工阶段，我们会有专业的团队定期的在现场进行访问参观，与施工团队不断的沟通交流。在可预见问题发生之前对整个项目进行及时的调整，保证每一处细节的完成度和整体项目的品质。

The next thing - we have a team that specializes in inspecting construction sites. And with that, they will visit the sites regularly. They will spend time with the contractor. And as part of that process, they will even teach and guide the contractor in how to get the right finishes and quality out of the details. And that's a really an important process with regular, regular, regular site visits, where we'll be going there marking up, making notes, teaching, guiding and helping every step to foresee any problems before they happen and ensure the very best end results.

首先作为一家拥有社会责任感的公司，不能仅仅为了盈利或是漂亮的设计而设计，还要努力的去回馈社会，这也是我们公司或者是我个人在努力去做的事情。我一直坚定的认为，我们作为一家有一定影响力的公司，需要为我们设计的场所和使用场所的人们负责除了与社区接触，在澳大利亚的项目中，我们也在尝试着与当地的原住民展开合作，保护这种历史文化的传承。同样的，中国作为一个拥有上下五千年的灿烂文明史的国家，文明的延续也很重要。所以实现不同社群的渴求，是我们下一阶段应该去做的事情。

The social responsibility we're talking about is our status as a company and how we try and respond, to not just making money and doing nice designs, but also giving something back to the communities and to engage with the society itself, which is something that we try to do both on a personal and company level. I'm very much a firm believer of we, as a larger company, have a responsibility to the places where we design and the people we designed for.

We try to do that in our design projects, but also try to engage with the community, particularly on Australian projects where we'll have a specialist engagement coordinator to work directly with the communities and indigenous people. True community consultation, I don't think is something that we're too far away from in China - the next level where we can actually do community consultations, engage with society and the people in the street, and understand what those locals would be looking for. I think that's something that we respond to do in the next stage of our development.

我认为这是一个有趣的时间点。在过去5年的时间里，中国的景观设计发生了翻天覆地的变化。从单纯的追求视觉效果到注重功能性以及人的体验性，人们逐渐认识到景观设计对城市建设的重要性。景观设计并不是一门单纯的学科，它更注重于场所营造、城市设计以及与设计和艺术的融合。所以在我们所有的设计中都要在人文需求和环境需求中寻找平衡点。近几年由于对景观设计看法的转变也让客户更多地理解我们在设计中所采取的方法，因为这样不仅能更好的体现人的价值更能增加环境的价值。

I think it's an interesting time. The last five years landscape architecture in China has changed its face. It's moved away from being something that is just about beauty and nice to look at. Now, people really truly understand the importance of landscape as a city making tool. Oh, and I don't just mean landscape architecture such as a discipline - it's more about placemaking, landscape urbanism, landscape and integrated design and arts. One of the things that has been driven by both local and international companies in the Chinese market is the change from “piaoliang”- “isn't it beautiful”, to actually, “All that works. I can sit here and use it. It can provide something more, not just from a human point of view, from an environmental point of view too.”

你会发现这种平衡是我们所有的设计都在寻找的东西之一就是在人文需求和环境需求之间的平衡。这就像是一个平衡游戏，对我来说也是一个关键的改变。当我第一次来到中国的时候，关于未来的环境功能、价值之间的争论就像是一个永无止境的故事一样。但由于观念的转变，现在客户渐渐的开始理解我们在设计中的坚持。功能是环境需求和景观增值之间的平衡，而不仅是空间使用者和客户的需求，对于环境也同样重要。

And you get ‘that balance’. It’s one of the things we look for in all of our designs - the balance between humanistic needs and environmental needs. And getting the two right is a balancing game. That is a key change for me. When I first came to China, it was all about the story and visual alone. Clients would switch off unless you were talking about a dragon. You know, and it was all about what is it going look like. Now, clients are far more educated, experienced and understand the importance of the approach that we drive into all our designs. The functionality is the balance between environment, social, cultural and commercial needs and for landscape, how landscape can add real value, not just for the people, not just for the clients, but to the environment as well.

而对于环境的关注，这不仅仅是西方的事情，也受到越来越多的中国企业的关注，这是件好事。在我看来，随着城市密度越来越小，城市的发展速度会越来越快，就像我之前提到的，每天可供人们使用的有意义的开放空间的范围会越来越大，到处都有公园。这就又回到了我之前提到的设计者和开发者所要承担的责任，他们有责任为人们提供一个内外兼顾的景观环境。

And that's something that isn't just a Western thing. It’s something has been embraced and driven by a lot Chinese companies as well. Which is a great thing for the future. I particularly think, for greater development; as the intensity of urban areas gets more and more tighter, the amount of meaningful open spaces available to people on a daily basis need to be spaces of real value. So it focuses back to the responsibility of designers and developers of these mixed use complex projects where people live, work and play to provide landscape and environment both indoor and outdoor with real meaningful value.

这是一个充满意义、可持续的且真实的创造过程。不同于过去空荡荡的只注重铺装和建筑的广场，如今人们更多的需要一个适合生活的景观场景。为日常生活注入一个新鲜的活力，反过来在刺激个人和社会价值的实现，为当地的经济发展带去活力。

That is meaningful, authentic, creative, innovative and sustainable. All of these good things they need to provide. And the days of just an empty plaza dominated by paving and a view of building facades are gone. People aren’t and can’t be inspired by that! People won’t come and live their lives in that type of environment. What's more important is to have a landscape that can stimulate people, the culture, so they will come and live their life. They'll bring that energy, their family and their friends and that in turn will bring economic success for these projects.

我们将依然以享受工作的乐趣为目标。对我而言，这关系到我的员工和我们澳派的设计师们，让他们能够在各自的道路上有所发展，并且能够作为一个团队共同进步。设计是非常人性化的，所以我们没有一个很大、很宏伟的目标，我们只想享受这个工作的过程，能够让其他人从我们设计的空间中感受乐趣。从项目的角度来看，我们喜欢去做那些有趣且富有挑战性的项目，让我们的设计和理念点亮人们生活的空间，所以我们并不会止步于眼前，而是回去会去开拓更多海外的项目。去年在迪拜、澳大利亚西部的珀斯我们都陆续的展开了一些项目。前不久，我们还在广州开了一个小的工作室。但我们不没有刻意的想去占领全球市场，这都是顺其自然发生的事情，都是为了能与客户更紧密的联系，丰富我们的项目类型。

I think in general terms, and after world domination (Stephen jokes) we just enjoy doing our work. For me it's about my staff and the designers at ASPECT Studios. It's about their individual journeys as well as developing them as a team. We are known for designs that are very humanistic. We don't have big, big aspirations, we just want to do good work and enjoy the work we do, so that others can enjoy the spaces we help create and that's it - a very simple goal. From a project perspective, we like to follow where we can do the most interesting and challenging work is, where our design and principles can help to bring delight to communities . And that might mean not just looking at our doorstep, but looking overseas and so on. Over the last couple of years, well, last year with ASPECT Studios, we have expanded to new locations. We are now in Dubai, Perth (Western Australia) and last month, I opened a little satellite studio in Guangzhou. And the purpose of this isn't for global domination but about having a closer connection to our clients and our portfolio of projects.