Newspaper
Fellows welcomed
Fellowship of the LI is given to senior members of the profession, recognising an individual’s talent, expertise and particular contribution to landscape architecture. Thorne was commended by the Fellowship Assessment Board for his many years of exceptional service to the Institute as senior vice president and for working tirelessly on behalf of the Education & Membership Committee.
Recognising his status as one of the profession’s leading landscape managers, the board was impressed with his ability to successfully run his own consultancy while also giving his time to serving the profession and the community.
Thorne told Vista: “I think people massively underestimate the influence of and the necessity for landscape architects and I think the only way we can promote that and give it that extra bit of strength is by becoming part of our professional body. “I feel I’ve given quite a lot of my time over the years, but hopefully in the right directions through education and accreditation in our professional schools.”
He continued: “There’s never been a better time to be a landscape architect. I think we are becoming more and more appreciated; we are becoming much more important within the multi-disciplinary teams that are being set up for every development.“
The second new fellow, Lionel Fanshawe, has also had a prolific career. He was the project landscape architect for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, designing not only the athletes’ village, but also the colour scheme and the flags for the whole games. For the past 16 years, he has been involved in a wide-ranging project at Tittenhurst Park, the former home of John Lennon, which is now owned by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.
The assessment board noted Fanshawe’s varied and extensive professional achievements as the respected leader of international consultancy Terra Firma, which has produced many award-winning schemes, and commended his commitment to education and the local community.
Speaking to Vista, he said: “I didn’t think I was going to do landscape straight from childhood. In fact, I started off in the merchant navy, training to be a navigational officer for a while.
“I’d always wanted to go to sea, but I also wanted to do something artistic and when I came across landscape architecture, I thought it really gelled a number of things into something very interesting indeed – and I haven’t really looked back in 27 years.”
Commenting on his fellowship, he added: “It has always been the case that everyone needs to help a bit more with the LI – it’s our Institute, after all. We are all enthusiastic and passionate, so why not get more involved. It makes it that much easier for everyone if we all play a part, rather than leaving it to the same people every time.”
Applications are considered by the board on the basis of an application form and portfolio, usually followed by an interview with a specially convened panel.
Further details and an application pack are available from Jac Harris, the LI’s membership officer on jach@landscapeinstitute.org.uk or 0207 299 4504. Discuss this article
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