Heathland Studio is a landscape architecture and strategic advisory practice led by Robyn Anne Spolander CMLI, Chartered Landscape Architect, with more than 25 years’ international professional experience spanning private practice, public-sector institutions and independent consultancy in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The practice provides bespoke landscape planning, design and environmental advisory services that support project delivery, align with statutory and policy frameworks and assist clients in navigating complex development processes.

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Robyn’s professional background encompasses private practice leadership, institutional advisory roles and professional governance. In 2004, she established and led a landscape architecture practice in Cape Town for over eighteen years, delivering projects across a diverse range of scales and sectors including prestige & heritage projects, residential developments, public realm, education, healthcare, transport infrastructure, mixed-use development and complex urban environments. Her work ranged from early feasibility and masterplanning through to technical documentation, implementation and long-term landscape stewardship.

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Her academic foundation combines architecture, landscape architecture and project management. She completed a three-year National Diploma in Architecture in 1992, providing a strong technical and spatial grounding that continues to inform her interdisciplinary approach and collaboration with built environment professionals.

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She subsequently completed a four-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) in 1998, at that time the only accredited landscape architecture programme in Africa, later restructured into a BSc undergraduate and Masters qualification. Her final-year thesis focused on the urban fringe condition of a university precinct and was awarded a distinction.

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After gaining experience with highly regarded & established practices in Cape Town, she completed professional examinations & became registered as a Professional Landscape Architect with the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP). In 2004, she founded & led a landscape architecture practice in Cape Town, which operated successfully for over eighteen years. During this time, she delivered projects across a wide range of scales & sectors, from early concept & masterplanning through to design, technical documentation & delivery of projects.

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Her practice later formed part of a consultant team appointed to prepare a city-scale cycle and pedestrian network planning framework for the Cape Town Northern Region. This led to the delivery of more than fifteen Active Travel / Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) projects across Cape Town, integrating pedestrian and cycle infrastructure with schools, healthcare facilities, sporting amenities, public transport systems and upgraded public open spaces within the broader public realm.

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Between 2009 and 2013, Robyn served as a Council Member of the Council Member of the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP), contributing to professional governance, registration processes, written examinations, interviews and the development of professional standards and registration categories.​

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Between 2014 and 2016, Robyn worked as a Senior Landscape Architect within the University of Cape Town's Physical Planning Unit, where she prepared campus-wide Landscape Framework Plans & provided strategic landscape, planning & environmental advice on capital development projects across the university estate. The role combined landscape planning, governance & multidisciplinary project coordination. As Servicing Officer to the University Building and Development Committee (UB&DC) & the Physical Planning and Landscape Committee (PPLC) & an attendee of the Environmental Management Working Group (EMWG), she supported institutional decision-making processes relating to campus development, planning & environmental management. Responsibilities included coordinating meetings, preparing agendas & reports, facilitating project presentations by project teams, recording proceedings & providing landscape planning input on major capital projects. The position required a strong understanding of governance, policy compliance, stakeholder engagement & interdisciplinary coordination, ensuring that planning, environmental & design standards were consistently upheld at institutional level.

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In 2020, Robyn returned full time to private practice and was invited to serve as a regional judge for the annual awards of the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI), assessing projects against industry benchmarks for design quality, technical execution, environmental responsibility and landscape construction standards.

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​​​Alongside professional practice, she has continued to develop specialist expertise. In 2015, she completed formal training in Heritage Resources Management (HRM), covering heritage significance, statutory processes & professional responsibility. In 2016, she completed specialist training in Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), aligned with international best practice & the principles of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).

 

In 2022, Robyn completed a 3-year postgraduate Master of Science in Project Management through the University of Cape Town Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment. This coursework aligned with industry best practice & built environment professional competencies, including those relevant to RICS frameworks, and:

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• Drew on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

• Focussed on multidisciplinary project delivery

• Included advanced study in procurement, risk, finance, systems theory, leadership & research

• Addressed both public & private sector infrastructure & project environments

• Incorporated sustainability & socio-economic development principles

• Developed expertise in project implementation & strategic planning within complex, multidisciplinary settings

 

Her dissertation explored 'The Critical Success Factors for Landscape Management on SuDS Projects', reflecting a particular professional interest in water-sensitive design, implementation and long-term stewardship, reflecting a particular professional interest in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems & long-term stewardship.

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Robyn began practising in the United Kingdom in 2022 & has since gained experience delivering education projects through the RIBA Work Stages & Department for Education Client Engagement Meeting (CEM) processes. Her work has been informed by Department for Education technical guidance relating to the design & delivery of school & college buildings & associated outdoor environments. During this period, she contributed to landscape design development, technical coordination & the preparation of project documentation, while also supporting colleagues through mentoring & contributing to the development of technical & design resources.

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She became a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) in 2024. Her ongoing learning has been supported through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with the Landscape Institute (LI), including Biodiversity Net Gain, SuDS, Natural Capital, Placemaking, carbon reduction strategies on projects, planting design & UK planning policy.

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Robyn brings a thoughtful, analytical and pragmatic approach to landscape planning and design, combining ecological sensitivity with technical understanding, professional judgement and long-term landscape thinking. Her work is particularly focused on the planning, strategic and early delivery stages of projects, providing landscape strategy, environmental design input and technical coordination to support robust planning submissions, multidisciplinary collaboration and informed decision-making.

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Heathland Studio works across private and public-sector contexts, including institutional campuses, infrastructure-related landscapes, environmentally sensitive sites and projects where governance, environmental responsibility and design quality intersect. The practice collaborates closely with clients, consultants, public bodies and stakeholders to create landscapes that are functional, resilient and contextually grounded, while remaining responsive to practical delivery considerations and long-term stewardship.

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From a business perspective, the practice has benefited from training, mentoring & support from organisations including Digital Boost, MENTA Business Support, & Start Build Grow, supporting the development of sustainable business practice and professional growth.

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The practice is committed to maintaining the highest professional, ethical and regulatory standards in accordance with UK professional practice requirements.