Dat Nguyen

Hi, I’m Dat, a landscape architect with a background in urban planning. I enjoy working on places where cities, people and nature meet, helping to turn quite complex sites into clear, buildable designs that feel good to live in.

I recently completed my MA in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Beckett University (Distinction), where my thesis on regenerating Sheffield’s Upper Don Valley received the Gillespies Fraser Teal Award for Outstanding Design. Before moving to the UK, I spent over four years in Vietnam working on masterplans, public realm and park projects, which taught me how to balance client needs, policy and on-the-ground realities.

My work is shaped by four simple pillars: locality, ecology, community and contemporary life. I’m particularly interested in nature-based solutions – SuDS, green–blue infrastructure, urban agriculture and sensitive reuse of industrial heritage – and how these can make everyday environments more resilient and inclusive.

Day to day I use freehand sketching, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion and Adobe InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop, with growing experience in GIS/Mapbox, LVIA and Revit. I’m still learning and always keen to improve my technical and communication skills.

I value friendly, supportive teams and good mentoring. I’m open to opportunities across the UK in landscape architecture, urban design and regeneration, and I’m always happy to connect, share ideas and learn from others in the field.

Award-winning MA Landscape Architecture graduate with 4+ years’ combined experience in landscape architecture and urban planning. I have contributed to 30+ projects from 1 ha parks and pocket parks to 1,000+ ha new development areas, including Mixed-used, theme parks, resorts, public realm upgrades and Residential. My strengths are concept development and masterplanning, nature-based solutions (SuDS, green–blue infrastructure, urban agriculture), clear visual communication (hand sketching, masterplans, 3D models, diagrams) and coordinating multidisciplinary teams through RIBA Stages 1–3.

I am confident using AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Creative Suite and GIS/Mapbox, and experienced in presenting work to clients, stakeholders and local authorities.

I recently completed an MA in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Beckett University with Distinction and received the Gillespies Fraser Teal Award for Outstanding Design. This programme strengthened my skills in planting design, construction detailing, SuDS, biodiversity net gain and inclusive public-realm design. Previously I gained a BA in Regional and Urban Planning from Hanoi Architecture University (Merit, Best Thesis Award), which provided a strong foundation in urban analysis, masterplanning and planning policy.

Together, these degrees enable me to connect strategic planning with detailed, landscape-led design for complex urban and regeneration projects.