Magazine

The Land escape

Marcus Tan guides you in the great journey of

being a Landscape Architect

Q: What are the rewards of being a lanscape architect?

A: The simplest thing as getting the job done and seeing the outcome Now that you are studying architecture, you'll see the design part is interesting. All the drawings and sketches, the collaboration and burst of ideas is something but actually finishing the job, telling the contractor what to do before the opening, putting the final touches, is something else. It makes all the work and effort, sleepless night and struggle worthwhile. It has a certain sense of satisfaction. Landscape is really what you call the curtains to the window. So whenever I finish a project and especially if we do resorts and hotels, WAAAAH it's very fulfilling. This is what keeps us going.

Q: What do you like the least about being a landscape architect?

A: (mimicks intense thinking) Hmmm what I dislike about the industry nowadays is the way too quick pace. So the problemis that most often we are not given enough time to do our designs and this sometimes results in churning out designs without any basic inspiration in order to meet datelines. It is frustrating because we lose our essence... Basically everyone in the construction industry faces that.

At only 32 years old, Marcus Tan has achieved quite an envious life. He is a well settled and known landscape architect working in a company named URBANiS. He has worked on big projects all over malaysia but also around the world. Despite his success he stayed

his humble and joyful self, ready to show us the way in his universe that is landscape architect.

Q:First of all, what made you choose the construction industry?

A: From a very young age my dad would bring me to his construction sites and I grew up appreciating and looking up to the construction industry. It was rather a brainwash when you think of it, but I still grew up having penchant to it compared to other fields.

The inevitable Q & As with our favourite landscape architect

I don't divide architecture, landscape and

gardening; to me they are one.- Luis Barragan

Q:Landscape architect to be honest is quite an underrated job, what was the moment when you decided this was the path you wanted to take?

A: True. I think that landscape plays a more significant part in development nowadays than let's say15 years ago. Long ago the purpose of landscape was just for authority submissions.You plant a tree so you can get the approvals. (laughs) If you notice nowadays landscape has finally taken it's place, the foreground. As was said:

Simple example, take the advertisement of big hotels, big malls, they will first show the landscape and this is what really sets the mood. I was also very influenced by my trips to other countries especially Singapore, which really emphasises on the ecology and their city scape. Seeing how the landscape element has become a fundamental part of the overall developments and how urban planning has taken its real place in the industry proved to me that there was prospect in this field. But most important I really just wanted to be a landscape architect. (laughs)

Q: You mentioned working in other countries before, how do you export your 'brand'?

A: Mostly we rely on the work we have already done and our clients recommend us to others. Often through recommendation or mouth to ear, clients come to us saying "I have a project here, are you keen?". And we always answer "Why not?" (laughs) Besides that we don't really do marketing, we just work with our existing client list. We do not feel the need of doing marketing, not boasting but we do what we like and what inspires us and hope that others are inspired to. So we give our profile out and they like it other times they don't, that's the industry. So far we have pleased all of our clients.I think to be good in it you need to provide excellent services to your clients and consultants and the recommendation will flow.

Q: What landscapes inspire you?

A: I really fancy one project , that is the Four Seasons in Langkawi. I went there 10 years ago and still haven't found anything as inspiring. The exquisite design and details are by Bill Bensley. He lives in Bangkok now. He is brilliant and one of the top Landscape architect in the world, the way he designs is just fantastic! I'll always remember the way he bended his designs around nature so they were complementary to each other. Once I was working through a corridor and at the end of it was a huge door but a tiny hole, through which if you peep you could see the ocean. I loved the contrast between the huge door and the hole and the hole would capture the attention! Till now when I think of it, it makes me travel. His work is excellent. It doesn't influence my projects but it's fantastic landscape and motivates me to know that such good work can still be achievable.

Q: What advice do you have for young landscape architects?

A: My advice to you is to go out and expose yourself to the construction industry. Make contacts out there, work in a design firm, learn, go out of your comfort zone! Do not have an ego, if they tell you to print just do it, get a feel of how it is around the office. Know your way around then make your way up.

To be succesful in life you have to eat the humble pie first.-Marcus Tan