What does a landscape architect actually do?

When Anders Blomberg took a walk around Sandgrundsudden last autumn he was euphoric. After eight years at the engineering firm Sweco he was going to start his own consultancy as a landscape architect, and the first assignment was already secured.

Flying start

The company got the musical name Kvint Landskapsarkitektur, since Anders's great leisure interest is music. He made a long list of companies he wanted to have as customers. But from the very first week people got in touch to buy his services, so it was a flying start.

Draws everything in town that isn't a building

As a landscape architect Anders works with most things in a city that aren't buildings. It is his task to design an environment so that it is accessible to those who are going to live and work in it, such as pedestrians, cars, cyclists, transport and emergency vehicles.

At the same time Anders has to follow all the requirements and guidelines that exist for stormwater, rain beds and climate adaptations, without compromising on aesthetics or budget.

"There are so many different things you have to master as a landscape architect. It's technology and aesthetics, but also materials knowledge, economics, law and human relations. It is exactly the mix of all the different disciplines, and that there is so infinitely much to learn, that makes this profession so interesting," Anders believes.

An example to be proud of

Most of his professional skills Anders has learned at Sweco, through all the exciting projects he took part in. He brightens up most when he talks about the construction of the quayside promenade at Packhusallén in Kanikenäset in Karlstad.

"There I was responsible for most of the design and land and landscape design. I also drew and produced construction documents for everything from the basic concept down to which quarry the granite should be fetched from. The end result turned out very well," Anders thinks.

Collaborates with POJI

Ever since the euphoric walk around Sandgrundsudden Anders has worked with industrial house builder MOKO as his biggest customer, but he also draws some private gardens and collaborates with ground contractor Kvalitetsmark on school projects. He also works closely with POJI to find collaboration projects and exchange experiences.

"What I like about POJI is that they have a long-developed industrial way of thinking in their processes, which I think is exactly what the construction industry needs to be able to become more efficient," says Anders.

Digitalising his work

Just like POJI, Anders strives to digitalise his operation as far as possible. He works largely in 3D to be able to quickly extract data from his sketches and drawings, and recently he ordered a drone to use to quickly create digital models of an existing environment.

"Within landscape architecture there is great potential for technology development. I try to stay at the forefront to be able to help my customers as efficiently as possible. For example by calculating at an early stage how much material may need to be purchased," Anders concludes.

Together we are more complete

Kvint Landskapsarkitektur is one of several companies that POJI collaborates with to be able to offer a more complete range of services around design and construction of multi-family housing.