Matt Lester
Senior Landscape Architect
BSc (Geography), PG Dip. (Landscape Architecture), NZILA Registered
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Matt has joined the team at RMM from his previous practice of Earthwork in 2021. He is loving working in this large and well organised team. RMM provides ample opportunity to capitalise on his experience and continue his work across a broad reach of the profession.
A passionate advocate for the landscape, Matt is committed to focusing on logical and thorough site planning in a multi-disciplinary environment and exploring landscape identity in a way that brings places to life for our clients and the public.
Over his varied career, Matt has worked around the country, focusing on the upper South Island, as well as overseas, with projects in the Pacific Islands and Vietnam. Project highlights have included: Savu Savu House Proposal (Fiji); Coeland Garden (Clarkeville); Vung Tau Garden Park Proposal (Vietnam); Halswell Commons and Knights Stream (Halswell); Te Whariki (Lincoln): the Dark Sky Project (Tekapo), Nolan garden (Kaikoura), Spitfire Square at Christchurch Airport.
Matt is a committee member for the Canterbury Westland branch of the NZILA, having recently retired as chair, is a committee member for Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust and has contributed to publications such as ‘Native by Design’ and has been a judge of the NZIA Canterbury Architecture Awards.
A passionate advocate for the landscape, Matt is committed to focusing on logical and thorough site planning in a multi-disciplinary environment and exploring landscape identity in a way that brings places to life for our clients and the public.
Over his varied career, Matt has worked around the country, focusing on the upper South Island, as well as overseas, with projects in the Pacific Islands and Vietnam. Project highlights have included: Savu Savu House Proposal (Fiji); Coeland Garden (Clarkeville); Vung Tau Garden Park Proposal (Vietnam); Halswell Commons and Knights Stream (Halswell); Te Whariki (Lincoln): the Dark Sky Project (Tekapo), Nolan garden (Kaikoura), Spitfire Square at Christchurch Airport.
Matt is a committee member for the Canterbury Westland branch of the NZILA, having recently retired as chair, is a committee member for Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust and has contributed to publications such as ‘Native by Design’ and has been a judge of the NZIA Canterbury Architecture Awards.
- Plays The guitar very poorly. Loves skiing, being out in our beautiful, natural environment. Tolerates mountain biking, running and the occasional trip to gym for their supposed health benefits.
- Values Honesty and a humorous, insightful outlook on the world.
- Supports The Red Devils during their magnificent Ranfurly Shield tenure of the 1970’s.
- Listens To Leigh, his beautiful wife, Tiny Desk concerts on YouTube, Lyndon Puffin, Over the Rhine, Mala, Fat Freddy’s Drop.
- Reads While a visual type, Matt is very proud of finishing The Luminaries. Greatest reading achievement to date.
- Drinks Yes please.
- Eats A wide variety of leafy green vegetables as long as accompanied by sustainably harvested meat.
