Leaders
In today’s rapidly urbanizing world, landscape architecture faces the challenge of balancing modern development with environmental integrity and cultural continuity. Cities’ demand for thoughtfully designed and resilient outdoor environments is urging.
Organizations must take an imperative call to address the industry’s challenges, with a mission-driven approach that fuels, design, art, and urbanism. A successful way forward is to responsibly honor the local heritage while providing forward-thinking solutions that enhance community engagement and ecological awareness.
Asli Ergen is a strategically driven landscape architect who thrives on her strong academic foundation in landscape architecture. As one of the directors of ONE Landscape, founded by Viraj Chatterjee, she has gained invaluable exposure and brings international expertise to several national and international projects, particularly across the MENA region, Middle East, and Africa.
After helping build strong foundations abroad, Asli settled in Dubai, driving strategic growth and fostering global collaborations. Her commitment to delivering impactful and culturally sensitive design spaces shapes ONE Landscape’s design strategies, which prioritize multifunctional green spaces, ecological restoration, and community engagement. At the heart of her work is the belief in reimagining how people engage with the natural world.
Take us through your educational journey. What inspired you to landscape architecture and what was your early inspirations?
My educational journey was shaped by an early passion for nature, art, people, and culture. This personal calling naturally led me to landscape architecture, a discipline where design, ecology, and social impact intersect seamlessly.
My journey in landscape architecture began with a bachelor’s degree that provided a comprehensive foundation in the discipline. One of my formative influences on my professional philosophy draw balance to create spaces that feel both untamed and profoundly poetic.
Tell us your professional journey as a landscape architect. What key areas of expertise have you developed over the years?
My journey as a landscape architect has been defined by continuous growth, adaptability, and a sharpened sense of purpose. Early in my career, I joined a multidisciplinary design firm, where I had the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of projects.
Working in Hong Kong further enriched my perspective, exposing me to diverse urban contexts and collaborative environments. This experience built a strong foundation in both the technical precision and creative depth that landscape architecture demands.
The work does not serve both people and planet, then it is not truly complete
Working on restoration and new landscape projects required dynamic teamwork with engineers, architects and ecologists, as well as genuine engagements with local communities. My approach to landscape architecture is grounded in the belief that landscapes can preserve and express memories.
What is the inception story of ONE Landscape? How did Viraj Chatterjee’s vision lead to the creation of the firm, and how do you contribute to bringing that vision to life as one of its directors?
After years of gaining diverse experience, I reached a point where I craved a more focused, intentional approach to design, something rooted in intimacy, depth, and a seat at the heart of the design conversation. I found that opportunity at ONE Landscape, a firm established by Viraj Chatterjee, someone I deeply admire and who continues to be a constant source of motivation for me.
His focus is simple yet powerful: deliver happiness through the design philosophy he calls ‘land-culture’, which is a way of working that connects people, place, and purpose, and live that same joy in the process. This shared ideology is at the heart of ONE Landscape, where unity is not just a principle but a daily practice.
The firm is built on three core disciplines: ecological intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and human-centred design, each pushing us to elevate our work.
What different hats do you wear as the Director of ONE Landscape? What are your current focus areas?
As a multidisciplinary professional, I juggle many roles, from design leadership to project strategy and team development. I aim to lead by example focusing on nurturing accountability within my team, as I prepare to make a full transition to Dubai. The goal is clear, which is to build a strong foundation that operates with trust, independence, and creative excellence, regardless of geography.
As I am intentful to gradually shift my base to Dubai, I am actively empowering my local team to step into greater leadership and ownership roles. My journey has progressed beyond the local landscape. I have stepped into a new chapter in collaboration with Viraj, and now I am now shaping landscapes on a broader scale.
What challenges do you encounter as a landscape architects and how do you navigate through these roadblocks?
Design, ecology, politics, and people are deeply interwoven, yet landscapes architecture is often undervalued in multidisciplinary projects. To address this, we lead with advocacy: engaging early in the process, demonstrating the systemic benefits of thoughtful landscapes, and educating clients on their long-term functional and financial value.
Land is not an afterthought, it shapes water flow, environmental impact, and long-term site viability. Our first task is often to educate and inspire our clients of the landscape’s critical value. We approach this with resilience-driven mindset, integrating native and drought-tolerant species, green infrastructure, and adaptive design strategies that allow landscapes to evolve over time.
Design that is not infirmed by local knowledge often leads to costly missteps. To avoid this, we emphasize on an interdisciplinary approach that prioritizes collaboration with ecologists, engineers, and the local community. Also, budget remains a huge part of this equation. We advocate that landscape is not a decorative afterthought, but a cultural continuity and environmental foresight.
Looking back at your journey, what has been your guiding leadership philosophy? What is your ‘success mantra’?
I personally believe in fostering an environment where trust, creativity, and growth are not only encouraged but expected and delivered. My role is not to provide every answer, but build the conditions for clarity, consistency, and compassion to thrive.
The nature of my profession is dynamic by design. Landscape evolve, physically and contextually, and with that, so must we. Staying adaptable while holding firm to what matters most, including ethics, impact, and stewardship, remains my foundation. For me, work must honor both humanity and the environment to be truly meaningful.
Asli Ergen, Director, One Landscape
As the director of ONE Landscape, Asli Ergen brings over several years of experience in landscape architecture design that focuses on strategic growth and global collaborations. Her thought leadership extends beyond geographies, allowing her to operate efficiently and independently through a strongly built design team and a loyal portfolio of client base. She believes that landscape architecture is far beyond just aesthetics.
It is rooted in its lasting impact that fosters healing, builds human connections, leaving a legacy through design. Her work honors local heritage with forward-thinking solutions that enhance community engagement and ecological awareness ultimately benefiting the future generations.
