Employee Spotlight: Natasha Libina
How has your career grown since entering the landscape architecture field?
My route to becoming a landscape architect was slightly circuitous — I entered the field after a decade of working as a research biologist. I had a pretty successful start to a career in science, but something didn’t quite add up and, with the diligence of a good researcher, I went in search of a new direction. To make a long story short, I started at Arterra as a (very) junior designer, while still at school retraining as a landscape architect. It was pretty much straight from a lab bench to a drafting table. There was a lot to learn then, but I had fabulous mentors and a supportive group of like-minded people around me. Fast-forward another decade-and-a-half — still here, in a senior position now, with a number of beautiful projects seen through, from conception through construction. As always, learning every day and enjoying every moment of it!
What motivates you?
What motivates me the most (and not just in my professional life) is the desire to create a thoughtful, carefully executed and ultimately beautiful product. It is also extremely rewarding to have engaged and appreciative clients — seeing people enjoy the spaces we create makes me want to do it over and over again. There is also the variety — every project presents unique challenges — that keeps the adrenaline pumping!
What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
In retrospect, I think it was always meant to be, despite the fact that I did not connect the dots until later in life. I’ve always had this diverse array of things that interested me — art, crafts, plants, nuts and bolts (so to speak), being in nature, creating something not just from a place of inspiration, but also from a practical need to solve a problem. One day I realized that there is a profession that has it all!
Which projects have been most near and dear to you?
There have been several in the past couple of years that I absolutely loved. I’d mention one in Santa Cruz — fabulous, engaged, artistic client. We got to play with interesting materials — this was my first time building a wall out of boulders 6’ across! The result was stunning. Creating a healing garden for a children’s hospice in San Leandro was another one of my favorites: different (and numerous) challenges, but seeing it come to life was incredibly rewarding. (This was a pro-bono project where most of the design and construction work and materials were donated.)
Which Winter Olympics sport is the best?
Great question — you are asking the right person! I am an absolute chionophile (yes, it is an actual word — I just looked it up trying to find the right descriptive :) ) Nothing makes me happier than the sight of snow (must be my Russian roots). I grew up watching figure skating competitions and loved it, but now that I am older and wiser (and can ski myself) I have to say — hands down, alpine skiing.