Keeping one step ahead

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Laith Wark.

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Residential Tower in Oud Metha Road.

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Crowne Plaza Hotel, Pune, India.

Landscape architects must work in conjunction with engineers and other consultants to achieve a particular character, says Laith Wark, director of Dubai-based landscape architecture practice Verdaus.

Being a visionary is essential to being a successful landscape architect, believes Laith Wark, director of landscape architecture practice Verdaus.

It would be fair to say that being a visionary is also pretty essential to being successful in business too.

Judging by his performance so far, Wark scores on both accounts.

Arriving in the region in 2002, Wark originally worked for one of Dubai's largest landscape practices before leaving to set up his own company with wife Melanie.

The investment paid off. The firm they founded has gone on to experience considerable success, scoring a number of high profile contracts and doubling in size each year.

It hasn't all been plain sailing, however, with recruiting staff and meeting tight deadlines just some of the challenges the practice had to contend with in the early years.

Wark talks Commercial Outdoor Design through the firm's history to date, his views on co-ordinating the work of landscape architects with that of other building and design professionals, and how to achieve sustainable design.

You set up Verdaus in 2004 with just one person, and now have 30 people. How quickly did that growth happen?

It has been gradual. Each year we are doubling in size or more.

We had in mind 30 people and now we have reached that. We are now planning the next stage of growth.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

At the moment, we're working on Dubai World Trade Centre Phase 1, Veneto East in the Dubai Waterfront project, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Dubai Studio City, three projects in DIFC, Index Tower, Lighthouse and Central Park 8 among other projects.

How has the type of project that you do changed over the years?

[The size] has increased, however some of our earlier projects were large-scale. One of the very first projects we did was Dubai Silicon Oasis Phase 1, which was approximately 55 hectares.

What advantages does a specialist firm have over a multi-disciplinary firm offering landscape as one of its services?

The client benefits from having an independent input from a landscape perspective. When appointed directly by the client we can provide independent advice on what is best from a landscape perspective.

As part of a mixed discipline team there might be internal constraints that must be respected. I have seen this in practice.

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