UrbanScapes Team

Experience & Expertise
DIRECTOR AND PLANNER

URBANscapes was established by Michellé Robertson-Swift in 2003 and has been successfully growing for 16 years.  Refer to Project Portfolio to see the wide variety of Open Space Facilities and Landscapes which we have planned and / developed.

URBANscapes is a registered closed corporation (LA WEB cc CK 2003/042215/23) and trading under the name of URBANscapes.  URBANscapes is 100% woman owned by Michellé Robertson-Swift, a registered Landscape Architect.

COMPANY REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Closed Corporation No. -LA WEB cc   CK 2003 / 042215 / 23 trading as URBANscapes

Closed Corporation Membership: Sole owner – Michelle Robertson- Swift PrLArch BLArch (UP) MSACLAP MILASA

VAT Registration No. -4840223178

Professional Registration No.:- SACLAP Reg. No. Pr 20137 (South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession- Member Michelle Robertson- Swift)

CAPABILITY

The firm is based on 27 years of experience, specialising in sustainable open / public space planning and development with a strong emphasis on creating sustainable, resilient landscapes and high quality live, work and relaxation environments.  As a result of the experience the firm is also based on 13 years of intensive research and development with regards the urban management of sustainable private and public (open space) facilities including residential or corporate landscapes and public transport interchanges, parks and public squares.  This research and development has led to the design of the S.O.S Sustainable Open Space Model and Systems software.

CAPACITY

URBANscapes core staff compliment is made up of inhouse experts and specialists as well as a virtual team of contracted key specialists.

The core team together with administrative and support staff includes:-

  • A registered landscape architect SACLAP (The South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession);
  • A qualified mechanical engineer who is experienced in landscape and civils construction detailing and on-site supervision;
  • A qualified Desk Top Publisher / Graphic Artist; and
  • A Sustainable Open Space Assessor and Manager.

URBANscapes also has a strong group of contract staff with specialist experience and expertise which it has had the privilege on numerous projects worked with successfully in the past and so calls upon dependent on the requirements and needs of the specific project.  

These experts include amongst others include:

  • Land Surveyor – experienced in surveying trees and shrubs required in Cultural Historic Landscape and other Assessment;
  • Arborist – experienced in the surveying, comprehensive inventorying, assessment and future works required action plan;
  • Hydrological Engineer – integrated hydrological management and site design achieving maximum sustainable on-site water management, harvesting and reuse;
  • Aquatic Ecologist;
  • Botanist / Plant Ecologist (both terrestrial and wetland);
  • Urban Agriculturist;
  • Business Planner;
  • Architect;
  • Urban Designer; and
  • Interior Designer.

Other information

DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING OPTIMAL LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES

“Integration is a powerful concept for cities. So where does the concept come from, and where might it take us in the long run?

Ecological systems are characterized by multifunctional elements and the looping and cascading of resources through interlinked and nested subsystems, which greatly enhance productive utility. They demonstrate powerful strategies for managing change, such as succession and evolution, self-organization, and adaptive management.

All these strategies are part of an integrated one system approach thus improving the efficiency of the system as a whole—maximizing assets”.

Just like natural ecologies URBANscapes’ philosophy and the S.O.S model and systems software, grasps the potential of these opportunities for system-wide success, sustainability and resilience.

S.O.S takes the inventory, design and management of all aspects of the landscape (man-made services and infrastructure together with natural infrastructure such as water, land, plant and fauna ecosystems, ensuring appropriate and optimal conservation and use and maximising efficiency and effectivity.  The system carefully inventories and records all information allowing easy access for purposes of education, information, tracking changes, monitoring and improving as well notifying operators of management and maintenance actions required.

A one system wholistic approach.