Practice Profile- ROBERT MYERS ASSOCIATES

I have chosen Robert Myers Associates Landscape Architects as my Practice Profile. Formerly known as Elizabeth Banks Associates they are a long established landscape design and urban consultancy firm that 'are informed by a wide experience of high profile projects and a sound knowledge of the characteristics and qualities of materials and plants'

I believe this is fundamental to our aims as landscape architects. An understanding of the wider connotations of the use of natural and synthetic materials informs our design choices whether in a historical or contemporary context.

Their work seems to sensitively balance requirements of the urban environment with a horticultural pre-disposition , whilst sympathetically answering to historical, restorative and contemporary design briefs.

A CONTEXTUAL STUDY OF CURRENT AND FORMER PRACTICE MEMBERS

ELIZABETH BANKS

Elizabeth Banks became a qualified landscape architect in the mid 1980s, designing the masterplan for RHS Garden Rosemoor in 1987. She is also a member of the RHS Picture Committee and sits on the RHS Council.

In addition to continuing an extensive career completing projects in Europe and America, she also takes great pride in overseeing the development of Hergest Croft, the 70 acre landscaped gardens at Kinton in Herefrodshire which is shared with her husband Lawrence. He too is a professional horticulturalist and is currently the Vice President of the RHS. Seen recently on the BBC series 'A Passion for Plants,' they are both highly esteemed judges at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Having won 3 gold members personally at the Chelsea Flower Show, it was her practice associate Robert Myers who won a gold medal for his Fortnum and Mason Garden in 2007 .

ROBERT MYERS

Fortnum and Mason 2007

'Much in demand for his sensitive restoration of historical gardens' he is quoted as reflecting on designing for Chelsea as being 'a much more artistic thing, but it still has a sense of place, and you still need to get under the skin of that place, its history and character. It's a slightly bizarre sense of place - but it does have one."

I think as potential landscape architects we are all attempting to find the 'sense of place' in what we do even if that results in being sympathetic to it or challenging and aiming to change it.

TOM STUART SMITH

Qualifying as a landscape architect in 1984 he proceeded to work for Elizabeth Banks Associates where he became a director. Similarly to his fellow colleagues he too has exhibited at Chelsea winning best in show in 2006 and 2003.

Best in Show 2006 for The Daily Telegraph- 'Complexity and Simplicity'

Best in Show 2003 for Laurent Perrier

Gold medal 2005 Laurent Perrier 'Trentham Awakes'
However, it is his passion and sensitive use of plants that allow to be at the forefront of historical restoration of Britain's great landscapes. Although now running his own practice, much of his work has been shaped by the experience gained at EBA and he has continued to be involved with the restoration of many formal gardens and grounds. Most recently he has has been working on the recasting of the Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire.

Trentham Gardens