Elke Haege Thorvaldson
AILA FRLA, MAIH
Landscape Architect + Consulting Arborist + Horticulturist
With over 26 years of experience (since 1999), Elke has been running her own practice since 2009.
QUALIFICATIONS:
– Elke is a Registered and Fellow landscape architect with AILA, The Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture.
– Elke is also a qualified consulting arborist (AQF Level 5) Dip. Arboriculture
and a Registered Horticulturist with The Australian Institute of Horticulture.
– Elke completed the Soil Biology and Plant Health Certificate Program, Western Sydney University, Soil Science Australia in 2024.
– Elke has lectured and tutored at The University of New South Wales as well as Ryde TAFE for the Landscape Architecture and the Consulting Arboriculture programs respectively. Elke periodically presents at Ryde TAFE for the Diploma of Arboriculture course.
– Elke is the co-author together with soil scientist Simon Leake of Soils for Landscape Development, Selection, Specification and Validation, CSIRO Publishing. 1st Edition 2014, Reprinted 2018, and the revised 2nd Edition in 2024.
Elke is an award winning landscape architect + consulting arborist + horticulturist who is an enthusiastic proponent to the development and sustainable connection to natural systems.
ELKE’S LATEST ACHEIVEMENTS:
– Elke was nominated and awarded with a Fellowship to The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) in 2022 for contributions to the landscape industry.
– Elke completed the Soil Biology and Plant Health Certificate Program, Western Sydney University, Soil Science Australia in 2024
– Elke was named as an Emerging Voice in Landscape Architecture by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects in 2016.
– Elke has had the opportunity to work on international projects from road upgrades to golf resorts in countries including Fiji, Denmark, United Kingdom / England and China. Elke’s work is now predominantly in Sydney and NSW.
COLLABORATION:
Being an experienced landscape architect + AQF Level 5 consulting arborist + horticulturist, Elke is often employed to assist on development projects as both landscape architect and consulting arborist. This creates efficiencies and helps streamline not only the project from design to construction phase, but is also beneficial for project costs, communication and project management.
Elke is also registered in QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment).
STYLE:
Often asked about what her style in landscape architecture is, Elke describes style and approach to landscape as influenced by the site. Elke’s style is either contextually based or influenced by the people who will be ultimately enjoying the space. Each project has different drivers and often many contributors influence design approach including: the end user, the existing natural systems (e.g. soil landscapes), the context of the site, the future maintenance, and expected lifespan of the landscape.
Other key design drivers Elke draws in include the project’s social, physical and environmental context. Elke is particularly passionate about soils and often her projects are influenced from the site’s geological and soil capacity and linked natural systems.
Where possible, Elke provides recommendations that can contribute to positive outcomes, design and value add solutions in a cost effective, low resource, and environmentally sensitive way (as her passion lies in natural systems).
ABOUT ELKE:
Elke is highly practical, realistic, hardworking, organised and efficient. Being very passionate about landscape architecture, there is rarely a time where a deadline hasn’t been met. Elke communicates with her project teams.
RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE INSUSTRY:
Elke has co-authored the award winning publication: “Soils for Landscape Development: Selection, Specification and Validation” published through CSIRO with soil scientist Simon Leake, SESL Australia:
The revised, expanded and updated 2nd Edition of “Soils for Landscape Development, Selection, Specification and Validation, CSIRO Publishing” by Simon Leake and Elke Haege was released in December 2024.
This 2 x award winning book was first published in 2014, reprinted in 2018 with the 2024 2nd edition in 2024.
Ten years on, this award-winning industry book, which has been adopted across the industry in private practice, and by councils and education institute contains:
– 16 x performance-based soil specifications including new specifications for
- Ultra-Lightweight green roof media, and
- Biofiltration and Raingardens.
- The Soil Volume Simulator available here through Elke’s website,
- A low budget landscape section and small project section,
- A Soil Fundamentals chapter for landscape architects, designers and students,
- A section on Soil Design, landscape soil bioremediation, and soil contamination,
- The Soil Approach Method including soil amelioration, soil improvement, drainage types, growing media, mulch specifications and recommended soil volumes for trees,
- Soil validation specifications and compliance specifications.
THE SOIL VOLUME SIMULATOR (SVS):
Following and part of the CSIRO publication, Soils for Landscape Development, Elke and co-author Simon Leake collaborated on developing the Soil Volume Simulator (SVS). Click here to see the SVS in action.
Elke Haege Thorvaldson AILA FRLA, MAIH
ELKE Landscape Architect + Consulting Arborist + Horticulturist 0410 456 404
Office: 54 Reading Road, Brighton Le Sands, NSW 2216
- BLArch (Hons) (UNSW) Registered + Fellow Landscape Architect AILA FRLA (#001539)
- Dip. Arboriculture AQF Level 5. Consulting Arborist
- QTRA Quantified Tree Risk Assessment. Registered # 7682
- Registered Horticulturist, The Australian Institute of Horticulture. MAIH #EHT0423
