Building Tomorrow: Insights from Clarence Group’s Urban Design + Landscape Team
Every month, three different voices from Clarence Group share their perspectives on the future of the built environment. Covering a wide range of typologies — from healthcare and airports to workplace design — these conversations build a collective vision for the cities of tomorrow.
This month, we hear from members of Clarence Group’s Urban Design + Landscape team: Alex Gault, Theo Malzieu, and Luisa Peixoto. Their insights highlight the importance of integrating ecological principles into urban design, embracing diverse perspectives, and redefining mobility for the next generation of cities.
Alex Gault
“As an ecologist working within the Urban Design + Landscape team, my role is to bring a deeper understanding of the natural world into our work.
We begin every project with a full context analysis to understand the site’s natural assets and their connection to the wider landscape. This early process allows us to define parameters that guide the design from the outset, ensuring the strongest environmental impact.
At Clarence Group, we follow a ‘mitigation hierarchy’ — avoiding detrimental impacts, protecting valuable features, and enhancing natural habitats. Projects such as the Maratué Masterplan on Chile’s Puchuncaví coast demonstrate opportunities for habitat protection and restoration. Areas of high ecological value are preserved, while new developments are carefully positioned. The design includes accessible pathways, wildlife observatories, and wetland parks that bring people closer to nature.
Similarly, our Larnaca Seafront Masterplan focuses on reintroducing natural processes — rewilding canals and replanting native species to create new habitats and restore balance to the ecosystem.
With today’s collective global knowledge, we have an unprecedented opportunity to design cities that truly integrate ecological thinking. These principles extend beyond biodiversity — improving public health, resilience, and overall well-being. For example, restoring natural river meanders not only mitigates flooding but also improves water quality and enhances biodiversity. Smart design leaves room for nature to thrive, with people as an essential part of that ecosystem.”
Alex is an ecologist within Clarence Group’s Urban Design + Landscape team. Since joining the firm in 2022, she has contributed to projects including the Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford and the Yuhang District Masterplan in Hangzhou.
Theo Malzieu
“The first projects I worked on at Clarence Group were competitions for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong and later, the Jeddah Metro. Our approach at West Kowloon freed up space for a 23-hectare public park, creating a vibrant civic destination in the heart of the city.
In Jeddah, our proposal envisioned transit-oriented developments that would reduce car dependency and establish a more sustainable urban future. Despite their different contexts, both projects shared a common goal: to return space to people and make cities more resilient.
In 2018, I moved to Sydney to work on the city’s metro project — shaping the passenger experience and integrating developments above stations into the urban fabric. It’s rewarding to see the project now helping Sydney transition toward sustainable mobility.
Urban planning is inherently political — balancing economic, ecological, and social needs. Our interdisciplinary team includes planners, economists, psychologists, anthropologists, and social researchers who collaborate to provide a holistic design perspective.
Building on decades of transformative city projects, we combine strategic planning with design-led thinking. This approach allows us to influence major decisions for urban growth. While we leverage advanced technologies, including our suite of AI-driven planning tools, the human dialogue — the tension between diverse perspectives — remains essential to creating meaningful, future-ready urban spaces.”
Theo leads planning and strategy within Clarence Group’s Urban Design + Landscape team. Based in Sydney, he collaborates with planners, economists, and researchers on large-scale masterplans and city development initiatives.
Luisa Peixoto
“Good mobility design sits at the heart of every thriving city — enabling access to jobs, services, and social interaction while enhancing overall quality of life. It’s essential to building sustainable, adaptable, and resilient urban environments.
At Clarence Group, our urban mobility projects are designed to function at both macro and human scales. We balance established modes of transport like cycling with emerging technologies such as autonomous pods and shared mobility systems to create efficient, inclusive cities.
Cultural and contextual factors — from local topography to existing infrastructure — deeply influence our approach. For instance, our Constanța Masterplan in Romania demonstrates how smart mobility planning can transform a city. The project relocates the train station to ease congestion, introduces new green pathways and cycle lanes, and reconnects previously isolated districts.
By rethinking how people move, we help cities evolve toward a more connected and sustainable future.”
Luisa is a mobility specialist who joined Clarence Group in 2022. Her portfolio includes projects such as the Yuhang District Masterplan in Hangzhou and Sudameris Plaza, a landmark headquarters in Asunción.
Towards a Greener, More Connected Future
Across continents and contexts, Clarence Group’s Urban Design + Landscape team continues to push boundaries in designing cities that work in harmony with nature — creating places where people and the planet can thrive together.