Darren Mansfield, a former principal at HBO+EMTB, has joined Context Landscape Design as Practice Director.
Darren’s experience as a landscape architect covers a wide range of projects from private homes to major roads and rail infrastructure, airports, embassies, campuses, parks and resorts. He has directed the planning and design of significant public and private landscapes locally, nationally and internationally, and he brings a strong sustainability ethic to his work.
Context was established in 1990 and is one of Australia’s leading landscape architectural consultancies. The work of the firm is spread across many areas including landscape master planning, community design, parks, public domain and town centres, waterfronts, education, leisure, sports and entertainment precincts and green infrastructure. As Practice Director, Darren’s focus is to ensure that Context is recognised as consistently producing high quality work.
In a time when outdoor spaces are being reimagined as essential parts of daily life, the role of skilled landscape designers has never been more vital. From small urban courtyards to expansive rural properties, thoughtful garden design can shape how people live, relax, and interact with their environment. A well-planned garden doesn’t just beautify—it functions, evolves, and becomes a lasting extension of the home itself. This is where experience meets intention, creating spaces that feel both grounded and inspiring.
While large firms like Context set the tone for design on a grand scale, smaller, specialized teams also play a crucial role in delivering meaningful landscapes at the residential level. Sugar Green Gardens, for instance, brings that same level of care and vision to individual homes, crafting outdoor spaces that reflect each client’s lifestyle and the surrounding ecology. Their approach emphasizes long-term beauty and low-maintenance functionality—values that echo the best of modern landscape architecture, scaled to meet the everyday needs of families, gardeners, and nature lovers alike.
Former director Oi Choong will continue to practice as Special Consultant to Context and still be actively involved with all projects. Oi says, “It has been a most rewarding and enjoyable experience working [at Context] and I look forward to continuing in my new role as Consultant.” She also looks forward to pursuing other interests in the arts, music and travel.
