our work imagines exciting and sustainable futures for urban and regional cities, towns, streets, schools, universities, and national, state and local parks, as well as the forgotten and invisible spaces in between.
we acknowledge
the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their deep knowledge and ongoing connection to their lands, waters and communities.
we pay our respects
to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and acknowledge Elders both past, present and emerging. We strongly support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
to the preservation of the very precious natural world we inhabit with all plants and creatures large and small. We are very committed to getting on with Zero carbon NOW.
The new Altona Pier
2024 Landscape Architecture Award (Civic Landscape)
AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards
The old pier reimagined...
for the next 100 years...
a place to watch...
a place to play...
and a beacon at night.
Barkley Hopkins Planters
2009 Award for Design in Landscape Architecture, AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
celebrating the Kinnears rope factory...
which closed in 2002...
ending 100 years of rope manufacturing in Footscray.
Seaford Foreshore Boardwalk
2016 Landscape Architecture Award (Parks & Open Space), AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards 2016 Award for Excellence (Parks & Open Space Category), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards 2016 Overall Winner, Timber Vision Awards
a dune protection fence and boardwalk...
that captures wind blown sand over time...
strengthening the primary dune.
Station Street Mall Frankston
2021 Award of Excellence, Civic Landscape, Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
2021 Award for Civic Landscape, National Landscape Architectural Awards
After 3 years of Climate Neutral certification with the Australian Government’s Climate Active, we have withdrawn from the official accreditation programme to explore more ‘hands on’ and active roles in dealing with the climate emergency.
We want to spend less time looking at numbers on a spreadsheet and more time actively participating in local projects that support the health and resilience of the natural world.
SEGF
In 2012 Site Office became a registered Small Energy Generation Facility (SEGF) with the installation of a 15kw PV solar array.
Electric Vehicle
When the distance is too far for the comfort of our bikes and access to public transport is a little too tricky, our electric vehicle takes us to any location around the state.
We simply charge our car here at the office.
EV Smart Charging
In early 2021, Site Office became a participant for a study into
EV smart charging patterns for business.
growing local...even your lunch
Our salad garden here at Site Office is supplied and installed by the terrific team at Biofilta. We are so impressed by the look and functionality!
2021 Award of Excellence for Health & Education Landscape, Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards
2021 Award for Health & Education, National Landscape Architecture Awards
All about planting ...
and the playful ways we can engage ...
with plants within the school grounds.
St Kilda Pier
a collaboration with Jackson Clements Burrows Architects and AW Maritime
A new structure...
for an iconic destination...
providing protection for the penguins...
and exciting new public spaces.
Skeleton Creek Bridges
2018 Landscape Architecture Award (Infrastructure), AILA National Awards
2018 Award for Infrastructure, AILA Victorian Awards
a series of new bridges...
crossing the Skeleton Creek...
linking disconnected pockets of suburbia.
Acknowledgments
A big thank you to all the inspiring and brilliant community groups, clients, collaborators, collegues and friends who have made these projects possible.
Image Credits
Thank you to all the artists and photographers who have captured the special moments of our projects, including Lisbeth Grosmann, Andrew Seward, Trevor Mein, Andrew Lloyd, John Gollings, Peter Bennetts, Peter Clarke, Ben Wrigley & Russell Cassar. For any media related enquiries, please contact Site Office.
Country
Site Office respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live, the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to their Elders, past present and emerging.
Chandler Highway
the native galaxia (galaxius olidus)
the intersection of big infrastructure with...
delicate ecologies within the city.
Woowookarung Park Plan
2019 Landscape Architecture Award (Landscape Planning), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
It is rare that a park of this size is created today.
a wonderful example of grass roots community activism led by the Friends of the Canadian Corridor ...
Woowookarung means ‘place of plenty’ and is a reminder of the importance of this landscape to the Traditional Owners and their ongoing connection to country.
Mount Street Heidelberg
2004 Award Commendation for Design, Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards
A sinous concrete wall ...
snaking across the site...
providing a place for people to wait...
animated by scrolling words from the community.
Grampians Peaks Trail Master Plan
2013 Award for Excellence in Planning, AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards,
2024 Landscape Architecture Award (Civic Landscape), AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards,
2024 Award of Excellence (Civic Landscape), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
Welcome to our very special & unique office.
Site Office is now located overlooking the magnificent Birrarung, the River of Mist, surrounded by and immersed within Melbourne’s largest Green Wedge! Marvellously, our office is located only 25 minutes from the CBD allowing us easy access to the rest of Melbourne.
News
October 20th 2021
Site Office wins two awards at the AILA National Conference in Perth. Station Street Mall receives the Landscape Architecture Award (Civic Landscape) and Albert Park College receives the Landscape Architecture Award (Health & Education Landscape). We are ecstatic! Thank you AILA.
2018 Award of Excellence (Landscape Planning), AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards
2018 Award of Excellence (Landscape Planning), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
2018, Shortlisted Entry, Australian Urban Design Awards
Hawthorn Arts Centre
2017 Award of Excellence (Urban Design), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
Sometimes urban design is not about the building...
but rather the spaces in between...
where people can pause momentarily...
on their journeys through the city...
St Kilda Promenade
2009 Award in Urban Design, Victorian Architecture Awards, Australian Institute of Architects
2009 Award for Design in Landscape Architecture, AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
"I want to see the sun go down from St Kilda Esplanade...
I'd give you all of Sydney Harbour...
For that one sweet promenade..." Paul Kelly
Mount Wycheproof
disused water infrastructure...
in a dry mallee landscape...
re-filled with environmental flows...
creating new habitat for people and animals.
People
Susie Kumar and Chris Sawyer are the founding directors of Site Office.
We are an enthusiastic collection of people who are hard working, fun loving, practical, rigorous, curious, nimble, dedicated, bold, strategic, respectful and kind. Minutiae is our happiness.
Our Clients
For over 20 years we have worked collaboratively with Traditional Owners, public citizens, community groups, schools and universities, Local Governments and State Government organisations. This includes Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water,
Victorian Schools Building Authority,
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria,
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning,
Vic Roads,
Melbourne University and
a wide range of local Councils and Shires. These are just a few of our working partners.
Raglan Street Park
2008 National Landscape Architecture Award (Design), AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards, 2007 Commendation Award in Design, AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
2022 Landscape Architecture Award (Urban Design), AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
A stop along the journey...
to grab a snack...
as the sun sets.
Keast Park Playground
water, sand + imagination...
a great combination...
RSPCA Kennel Courtyards
2008 Award in Design, AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards
Future Garden - the garden of dilemmas
2007 Award of Merit for Design in Landscape Architecture, Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards
2006 Best Environmental Building or Landscape, Architectural Excellence in the South East Awards.
2006 Chairman's Premier Award, Architectural Excellence in the South East Awards.
exploring ideas of land reclamation...
using tailored geotextile 'soft engineered' structures...