We are Rhizome.

We work at the intersection of people, place and ecology.

Rhizome's services

Rhizome is a landscape architecture, planning and ecology practice led by Simon Kilbane and Tam Hanson. Their work is driven by a strong respect for the natural world, with projects that cross multiple scales and form connections between ecology, people and place, through design.

Rhizome offers a human approach to the scientific. Projects are formed on a foundation of research and academic rigour, whilst being developed through an open, collaborative and positive approach that considers multiple perspectives. They are committed to creating a community around their work.

  • We combine our extensive and award-winning skills in Green Infrastructure research, planning and design with our expertise in urban ecology to offer robust and industry-leading projects.

    Projects include:

  • Then Rhizome team have a strong educational background and frequently publish research outcomes and findings in both peer-reviewed scientific literature as well as popular media including magazines and radio.

  • Drawing on decades of experience in urban design and planning both in Australia and overseas, Rhizome offers a bespoke and truly sustainable approach to the creation of forward-thinking cities and regions, based on diverse methodologies, a commitment to building a community around our practice and an array of readily accessible visuals and outputs.

  • 2. Working across large and small scales, we work with our clients and community toward the potential of public spaces large and small to find the right balance of human activity and use and ecological function and longevity through tested design and planning strategies.

    Projects include:

    Yalgorup

  • With a deepened understanding of ecological thinking and processes, we combine education, exploration, and practical application through our projects and research projects to help envisage the best possible, symbiotic relationships between people, place and ecology.

  • 5. We believe that genuine and effective engagement is key to any project success. While we have a significant toolkit of engagement methods, we craft a bespoke approach to the way that this occurs - depending on the project.

  • Simon’s poseeses a unique blend of contemporary skills and recognised expertise across landscape architecture and urban design and research through more than 25 years of practice as individual and collaborator in government, private practice and academic contexts both in Australia and overseas. In recognition of this skill set he currently sits on a range of Design Review Panels across Australia, including:

    City of Swan Design Review Panel member (WA) Oct 2024-present

    City of Canning Design Review Panel member (WA) Oct 2024-present

    South West Joint Design Review Panel (Cities of Bunbury, Busselton, Shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Collie and Harvey) member (WA) Nov 2023-present

    New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment’s State Design Review Panel member April 2019-present

    Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment NSW Parks for People Design Advisory Panel member Dec 2020-present

    City of Gosford Design Advisory Panel member (NSW) Jan 2020-Dec 2021

    Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Education Committee Team member 2014-present

    Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Accreditation Review Team member 2014-present

Our projects

Rhizome works across Australia, collaborating with local and state government, likeminded designers and community on diverse projects at a range of scales.

Rhizome excels in large-scale open space and protected area planning, delivering creative work on time and within budget.

Our Landscape Architectural research and landscape planning has received several national awards thanks to our innovative methods and research-based approach including GIS and mapping technologies and illustration expertise, community engagement, and ground-truthing practices.

We welcome opportunities to work with government, private sector, non-profits, research, and academia.

Connect with us on social media for the latest updates and inspiration from our award-winning multi-disciplinary landscape architecture, ecology, and urban design practice working across NSW and WA.

  • Highton Garden

  • National Green Network

  • Research and publishing

  • Lake Illawarra Shared Path Masterplan

  • Lake Yalgorup Visitor Masterplan

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Contact Us

At Rhizome, we love hearing from you! Whether you have a query, feedback, or simply want to say hello, we'd would welcome your message. We especially appreciate discussing how we might collaborate together on environmentally sound, creative and ethical projects.