Real Life Profile: Paj Valley
Paj Valley - Head of Landscape & Urban Design, Scott Wilson
I was always interested in the arts and architecture as a child and when it came to thinking about my future I looked into architecture but quickly realised that I wanted to shape the wider environment beyond buildings. Once I'd decided that landscape architecture was the job for me I researched the universities offering courses and went to the open days. I loved the work exhibited at Manchester Metropolitan University and it was my first choice, I was delighted when I got accepted on to their BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture course.
When I graduated I was lucky enough to have five job offers and I accepted a place with a specialised private practice. The first project I worked on was designing the external environment for a five star hotel in Dubai. For the next ten years I designed resorts, leisure, residential and mixed-use developments around the world including projects in India and Barbados.
After 12 years I'm a senior manager and I love being able to influence the way that people interact with the environment - the ability to transfer ideas from conceptual vision into reality provides the biggest 'buzz' for me.
My position allows me to dip in and out of projects and to 'Art Direct' the early stages of projects, as well as to provide essential guidance throughout the remaining design process.
I'm really passionate about UK urban regeneration schemes and I worked on the modernisation of the Bull Ring centre in Birmingham, it's really turned the city centre around and now people travel from all over the UK to visit it. At the moment I'm working on a number of mixed-use development schemes and a very challenging social housing project in Cheltenham, where we are working hard to provide social sustainable solutions for the residents and council. We also have the great opportunity to work alongside Designer and Housing Critic Wayne Hemingway to collectively deliver the vision.
If you want to get into landscape architecture then my advice would be to research, research, research. Talk to members of the profession; speak to landscape architects who work for local authorities and those in private practice. Understand what landscape architecture is and find out which aspects of it most appeal to you. The profession is big and diverse enough for everyone to find their own niche.
Want to find out more? Contact us for a careers pack.