All Things Greta: Design, Dark Chocolate, Synchronicity, and a Brave New World…
For this next installment of Teska’s ‘People Feature’ series, Teska Planner, Benito Garcia sat down to interview landscape designer, Greta Diaz. Greta is a passionate urban designer who believes the little details shape how we experience and interact with places. Her passion and inspiration for placemaking grew from the intersection of development patterns, local history, and culture to celebrate the multifaceted nature of design.
Greta moved to Chicago from her hometown of Caracas, Venezuela. She earned an architectural degree from the Central University of Venezuela and later worked on a variety of projects including the coastal development of Venezuela’s Vargas State, the renovation of the seashore and its connection with the city. Now, she is an integral part of the Teska Team, lending her creative chops and visual eye to bring big ideas to life.
Q: Tell us about yourself. How did you get into landscape architecture?
A: Well, I’m actually trained as an architect and my professional career is mostly architectural based, but I did take a landscape architecture course and really enjoyed it. There are many similarities between architecture and urban design. Whether designing buildings or public spaces, you need to look at the surrounding environment for context; it is important that they be in sync with one another. And of course, there are a lot more elements you need to be mindful of with urban design, such as plant species, what can survive in specific climates, maintenance, and the design of functional site plans.
"Keep an open mind and research a variety of applications of planning..."
Q: This or That?
- Safari or resort? Resort
- Pizza or tacos? Pizza (My favorite pizza place in Chicago is Coda di Volpe)
- Spring or summer? Summer
- Reading or drawing? Reading (a personal favorite is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)
- Crossfit or yoga? Yoga
- Road trip or plane? Plane (I like visiting NYC – crowed cities or just big cities in general are very exciting for me)
Q: We’re biased in saying that Landscape Architecture is a great profession. Can you share why you would recommend it to others?
There needs to be more focus on people and their connection to the natural environment. Cities can sometimes put a lot of emphasis on buildings and provide limited space for gathering. There are interesting designs, ideas, concepts, and models that prospective individuals can reference for inspiration. Get out of your comfort zone, explore, travel, and see how other places work.
"Get out of your comfort zone, explore, travel, and see how other places work."
Image Credit: GermanX (no alterations made)
Image Credit: GermanX (no alterations made)
Favorite Places...
Plaza Cubierta UCV is my favorite plaza because of the way it was designed. The elements it contains change the common concept of the open-air plaza. It has a roof that helps protect people from the harsh sunny/rainy days in the tropical weather. It also plays with traditional indoor-outdoor boundaries. The light and shadows contrast, the sculptures, the murals, and vegetation are all in balance – it is a unique space to hang out.
Q: If supplies of any kind everywhere were running out, what three things would you prioritize?
- Books (Historical Fiction, Mystery or Adventure)
- Notebook and pen
- Dark Chocolate (preferably 60-70% dark)
Q: Can you share some insights for future landscape architects?
Be aware of your surroundings. For me, designing spaces is all about recreating experiences. Think about your favorite park or plaza, what do you like about it? Is it the view? The shape? Lights? Shade? For me, it’s seeing everything come into balance. It’s a puzzle that you put together.
"For me, it’s seeing everything come into balance. It’s a puzzle that you put together."
Q: We’ve heard that you are a proud cat mom. Can you share your cat’s name and the inspiration behind that choice?
A: His name is Papelón, which means “sugarcane” in Venezuela.
It’s a cute and fun name that I can shorten in many ways, i.e.: “pape” “papel” “papelito” “pepelon”
