As we begin the final countdown to Christmas and get set for the long days of a kiwi summer holiday there’s time to reflect on the year that was for the landscape architecture profession.

Transport continues to impact the development of both our cities and countryside - alongside major infrastructure projects like Auckland’s City Rail Link are developments such as the pedestrianising of increasing areas in city centres, all leading to the idea of making our spaces more appropriate for people to live their lives in.

Today we review some of the LAs and design leaders we've profiled on LAA this year. From Julian Bolleter's musings on how an absence of the understanding of landscape in our past has resulted in "catastrophic" infill policies, to Martin Rein-Cano who told us he worried about too much beauty here in Aotearoa and Ryan Gravel who celebrated a violin playing, chilly-bin-with-a-dog-on- top toting woman in America - they all highlight an increasing understanding of the pivotal role LAs are taking in all our futures.

The video below has highlights from some of the visitors LAA has profiled this year.

Click here to watch video