SYLVA Atelier for Landscape Architecture & Urban Forestry

Jean-François Gauthier is a landscape architect and founder of SYLVA Landscape Architecture & Urban Forestry. In his practice, he develops a fascination for forest ecology, its applications in urban environments and the design of socially inclusive public spaces around nature in the city.

With the research ‘Trees First’, he explores the system and possibilities of the urban forest; focusing on trees in the city as a starting point for better public space design. Using various mixed-media techniques, he aims to visualize what a forest can look like in the public domain and help municipalities imagine the future of urban nature.
Next, the ‘trees first’ methodology is currently being tested in the Laak district of the municipality of The Hague with the realisation of built urban forest pilots. In these projects, a flexible collective of participants is brought to improve the green, public space in the neighbourhood and come-up with custom-made solutions per location, from design and participation to realisation and maintenance of ‘urban forests’.

Jean-Francois is also involved in education and is currently coordinator for the Pre-Master & Minor Landscape Architecture at Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam.