Meet Constanza Jara Herrera, an Urban Designer and Landscape Architect at Hansen. Joining Hansen in 2018, Connie, a Registered Landscape Architect brings over ten years of experience in a range of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture projects, practicing her multi-disciplinary backgrounds in architecture, art, landscape architecture, and urban design.

We sat down with Connie to discuss what she thinks are the key qualities of an urban designer and landscape architect, as well as the passions outside of work that inspire her creativity.
 

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

After finishing my architecture degree in Chile more than ten years ago I have been working in landscape architecture and urban design on projects across Australia, Chile and South-east Asia.

I started at Hansen almost seven years ago while I was studying a master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne. Since then, I have been involved in urban design and landscape architecture projects, including streetscape upgrades, framework plans, schematic and concept designs, masterplans, 3D modelling, design guidelines, artist impressions and many others.

For me, merging theoretical thinking and the practice of design is critical to moving our discipline forward. I have been involved in the academic world with teaching, a master’s degree and recently doctoral studies at the University of Melbourne. My PhD focuses on cultural landscapes and participatory design exploring creative research methods.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS AN IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR SOMEONE IN THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE / URBAN DESIGN FIELD TO HAVE?

An important quality in our discipline is communication – the ability to observe, listen and convey ideas within context. Much of our work is graphic-based, so improving our drawing/graphic skills is an important practice to facilitate communication not only for technical matters but also for engaging broader audiences.

I started practising hand drawing when studying architecture. Part of our training included completing forty drawings per week for many years! This helped my observation skills and to discover spatial qualities otherwise go unnoticed.

 

OUTSIDE OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE, WHAT ARE SOME PASSIONS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVITY?

For the last seven years I have been part of a Latin American Women’s collective that meets every Wednesday in Blak Dot Gallery/ Blakademy, in Brunswick. We read, weave ‘arpilleras’ (a Latin American textile art), and share our perspectives and experiences about living in between our new and original homelands.

Over the years, we have worked on various community and artistic projects, organising community days, creative workshops and screening sessions, as well as participating in residencies. In 2021 we made a documentary about winter solstice stories from different cultural practices and oral traditions from the southern hemisphere. In 2025 we are undertaking ‘weaving waters’ a project that creates ecological and artistic dialogues between Latin America and Naarm.