2024 NZILA Fellow: Dan Males
Dan Males has been named as a new NZILA Fellow for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the landscape architecture profession.
Dan says that the profession of landscape architecture was one he almost ‘fell into’ rather than sought out. It just seemed to be the right fit.
Dan receiving his Fellowship from NZILA President Debbie Tikao and Vice-President John Potter.
Growing up in the north of England, just outside the Lake District, Dan spent many childhood summer holidays exploring the windswept mountains and sailing the lakes of the area. For those not familiar with the Lake District, it is England’s largest National park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was here that Dan had one of his first jobs, restoring ancient hedgerows.
In the mid 90s, Dan began his formal study of landscape architecture in Leeds. Dan’s career has seen him spend time in America, China, and London, and when he and Kate arrived in Wellington in the early 2000’s, it was supposed to be just another stop on their travels. However, more than 18 years later, Wellington (and New Zealand) has become their permanent home. It was not long after their arrival in Wellington that Dan and Kate discovered an amazing community of landscape architects and designers with whom they quickly developed a connection.
Dan believes that it is the collaborative spirit of those in the design community in Wellington that sets it apart from other places. From his first decade in New Zealand working with colleagues at Isthmus to opening his own studio, Dan feels blessed to have been guided and supported by his Wellington peers.
Dan shares that these people, together with the wider Wellington community of designers and landscape architects, taught him about the importance of dialogue and questioning within the landscape architecture profession, as well as the integral role that the Institute plays in furthering this dialogue - as a place to champion ideas and push the profession, as well as ourselves, forward.
For Dan, being named a Fellow of Tuia Pito Ora is not only an honour, but also a bit of a wake up call. Reflecting on progress being made, Dan believes that the dialogue about the environment (and our place within it) is much stronger than it was 30 years ago, but that our actions and ability to manifest change seem to be slower.
With almost 30 years of his career already gone, Dan jokes that he ‘may need to go a little bit faster.’
Congratulations Dan, on this significant achievement, and here’s the the next 30 years.