In celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month series, we’re sharing perspectives from across our landscape architecture team at FPCR.
In this feature, we speak to Tom Wright, Senior Landscape Architect at FPCR, about his route into landscape architecture, the influence of growing up in Snowdonia, and how his experience across design and construction shapes his approach to creating places that are both practical and meaningful.
How did you start your career in landscape architecture?
I studied Landscape Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2019 – but my interest started much earlier. I grew up in Snowdonia, North Wales, and being around that kind of landscape gives you a real understanding of why people are drawn to nature and how strongly place can affect how you feel and think. That’s always stayed with me.
Alongside that, I was always interested in construction and making things. Before and during my studies, I worked on live projects with Trees for Cities, which included building gardens and practical site work, such as carpentry and pathways and surfacing.
That experience was key to my route into the profession. It demonstrated that, whilst drawings can look precise, the reality on site is often much messier. The gap between drawing and reality is a big part of why landscape architecture appealed to me; it sits right between design, construction and the environment.
Why did you choose to join FPCR?
I joined FPCR after university. I was looking for a role that would give me experience across planning, design and delivery, rather than being pushed into one area too early.
FPCR stood out because of its multidisciplinary setup. Working alongside ecology, arboriculture and architecture gives you a much more rounded understanding of projects, and how landscape fits into the wider picture. The variety of work and the ability to move between different scales and stages was a big draw for me.
What do you like most about working as a landscape architect?
The variety and the problem solving.
Landscape architecture sits in that space between strategic thinking and practical delivery. You might be thinking about how a place works at a wider scale, then immediately switch into resolving levels, materials or planting in detail.
I also like that it’s a profession where your work has a direct impact on how people experience a place. Done well, landscape can support wellbeing, encourage people outdoors, improve biodiversity and make everyday environments feel better. That combination of creativity, technical thinking and real-world impact is what keeps it interesting.
What does a typical day in the life of a landscape architect look like?
No two days are the same, which is part of the appeal.
A ‘typical’ day might involve working on plans, coordinating with architects and engineers, LVIA work, or developing landscape strategies. Some days are more design-led, others more technical or assessment based.
You’re constantly moving between strategy, assessment and detailed design. One of the things I value most about the role is being able to work from the large scale right down to a kerb detail, and understanding how those layers connect.
What are some of your favourite FPCR projects that you’ve worked on?
One of my favourite projects has been Pudsey Sixth Form College – a key example of taking a project from concept and planning through to construction. Being involved from RIBA Stages 2–5 meant seeing how early ideas translated into built outcomes, which is always valuable.
The site had challenging level changes, but the design turned that into an opportunity; creating a sequence of connected spaces that balance movement, biodiversity and student wellbeing. Arrival, circulation and planting all work together to shape how the space is used day to day. What stood out most for me was seeing it built.
I’ve also enjoyed working on Bessborough Gardens roof terraces, creating calm, usable spaces in a dense urban setting, and Pressworks within the Smithfield Masterplan in Birmingham, where the focus was on public realm as part of a wider city-scale vision.
What are your main design inspirations?
Snowdonia is a big influence – particularly how topography, water and vegetation come together to create places that feel immersive and restorative. It’s not about copying that directly, but understanding why those landscapes work and how that can be translated into urban environments.
I’m also really interested in cities that integrate nature into everyday life. Copenhagen has been a big influence here, particularly projects like Opera Park by COBE, Superkilen by BIG, Topotek1 and Superflex, which strategically link different parts of the city through pedestrian-friendly routes. 
Opera Park is highly designed but still feels calm and immersive, whereas Superkilen is more civic and social, focused on movement and public life. Both approach landscape differently, but both are rooted in how people experience space.
Thinkers like Jan Gehl have also shaped how I think, particularly around people, movement and how spaces are actually used.
I’m also influenced by people outside the profession, like Olafur Eliasson and Denis Villeneuve, particularly in how they think about atmosphere, scale and how environments are experienced.
What types of landscapes inspire you most?
Primarily natural or semi natural ones, particularly upland landscapes like those in North Wales and Scotland. The scale, openness and relationship between landform, weather and vegetation has always stayed with me.
I also really value well-designed urban landscapes that connect people to nature. Some of the most interesting spaces aren’t necessarily the biggest or most dramatic, but the ones that create a sense of calm, immersion or connection within a city.
What are key trends in landscape architecture in 2026?
There’s a clear shift towards climate resilience, biodiversity and more nature-led design. SuDS, biodiversity net gain and urban greening are now central to projects rather than add-ons. Spaces need to function and mature over time – not just look good upon completion.
There’s also a broader shift in how landscape is valued. It’s increasingly seen as fundamental to quality of life – managing water, supporting health and wellbeing, and creating places people want to spend time in.
Copenhagen, for example, feels people-focused because the thinking runs from strategy right down to detail. Walking and cycling are embedded into the city’s structure, carrying through to how edges, thresholds and even kerbs are designed. That joined-up thinking is what makes spaces more usable and more successful.
What are the key challenges facing landscape architecture in 2026?
Balancing ambition with real world constraints is a big one. Climate resilience, biodiversity, planning requirements and cost all need to be addressed without losing design quality.
There are also wider pressures around delivery, skills and the changing role of technology, including AI.
Another key challenge is ensuring landscape is brought into projects early enough. It often plays a central role in how places function and feel, but can still be undervalued or considered too late.
More broadly, improving access to nature in cities – not just creating spaces, but connecting them – feels like one of the most important challenges moving forward.
How would you describe your approach to landscape architecture design?
I’d describe my approach as strategic through to detailed, but always practical, grounded, and people-focused.
I start with the bigger picture – how a place connects, moves and sits within its wider context – and carry that thinking through to how it’s built and experienced day to day.
I’m interested in landscapes that feel natural and intuitive, shaped through subtle interventions rather than over design – where movement, levels, planting and materials quietly work together. I’m always thinking about how something will actually be built, so the design holds up in reality.
Ultimately, it’s about continuity – from concept through to detail and into use – making sure the original idea carries through and works over time.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in landscape architecture?
Understand both the creative and technical sides – good ideas need to be deliverable.
Get hands-on experience if you can. Seeing how things are built on site gives you a completely different perspective and helps bridge the gap between drawing and reality.
Most importantly, stay curious. Visit places, observe how people use them, and pay attention to how spaces feel.