Natural Gardens + Planning with Nature is crafted around the passion of landscape architect Emmarie Otto, to regenerate landscapes into thriving and beneficial human-nature systems. Her interest lies especially in urban and peri-urban areas, where so much of the natural landscape has already been negatively impacted upon.
Emmarie specialise in Natural Gardens and Planning with Nature to enhance the connection between built infrastructure and the services that nature provide at a planning level as well as at design level with indigenous gardens that are rich in biodiversity. She believes in designing gardens as functional systems from an ecological point of view. Gardens are more than plants and flowers, they have production functions of their own. A natural garden has no waste and can regenerate should external pressures not exceed its capacity to clean, renew, and keep the natural system healthy.
Embracing natural systems is the only functional way to create quality green spaces that contribute to healthy environments for man and nature. This design philosophy grows from a love for plants and the dynamic processes and services which nature provides to man and which we so often degrade, hide and disconnect from.
Emmarie has over 25 years experience in landscape architecture and sustainable urban development. She has been involved in projects related to ''green'' (ecological) infrastructure, urban environmental projects, open space community upgrade projects and upmarket commercial, public and private landscape projects.
Emmarie recenlty obtained her Master in Landscape architecture from the University of Pretoria, titled: Ecological resilience and the interaction between the freshwater ecosystem services and built environment in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.
Emmarie also contributes regularly to the online magazine, The Indigenous Gardener (https://www.theindigenousgardener.co.za) where she shares information about the gardens she designs, grassland specie plants and write about other inspirational natural gardens.
Emmarie Otto | BL(Pret), ML(Pret), (SACLAP) | SACLAP registration # 20170
Professional Landscape architect registered with the South African Council for Landscape Architects (SACLAP) and Master of Landscape architecture (ML) - urban ecology and resilient cities.
Emmarie specialise in Natural Gardens and Planning with Nature to enhance the connection between built infrastructure and the services that nature provide at a planning level as well as at design level with indigenous gardens that are rich in biodiversity. She believes in designing gardens as functional systems from an ecological point of view. Gardens are more than plants and flowers, they have production functions of their own. A natural garden has no waste and can regenerate should external pressures not exceed its capacity to clean, renew, and keep the natural system healthy.
Embracing natural systems is the only functional way to create quality green spaces that contribute to healthy environments for man and nature. This design philosophy grows from a love for plants and the dynamic processes and services which nature provides to man and which we so often degrade, hide and disconnect from.
Emmarie has over 25 years experience in landscape architecture and sustainable urban development. She has been involved in projects related to ''green'' (ecological) infrastructure, urban environmental projects, open space community upgrade projects and upmarket commercial, public and private landscape projects.
Emmarie recenlty obtained her Master in Landscape architecture from the University of Pretoria, titled: Ecological resilience and the interaction between the freshwater ecosystem services and built environment in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.
Emmarie also contributes regularly to the online magazine, The Indigenous Gardener (https://www.theindigenousgardener.co.za) where she shares information about the gardens she designs, grassland specie plants and write about other inspirational natural gardens.
Emmarie Otto | BL(Pret), ML(Pret), (SACLAP) | SACLAP registration # 20170
Professional Landscape architect registered with the South African Council for Landscape Architects (SACLAP) and Master of Landscape architecture (ML) - urban ecology and resilient cities.