Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Noyes.
Hi Ben, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career in Landscape Architecture after graduating from Kansas State University in 2007. I grew up in a rural community in Kansas, but was always interested in design, architecture, urban life, but also being outdoors. I worked for the first 10 years of my career at large Landscape Architecture firms in Dallas, TX and Shanghai, China. After exposure to some great work on large scale hospitality projects, I decided I wanted to move back to the US and wanted to work for a firm here in Miami. That lasted a couple of years before I decided there had to be a better way of making an impact in the world of landscape architecture. I went back to school and received a Master’s in Architectural Management from I.E. University in Madrid, where my entrepreneurial spirit was awakened. When I first opened my LLC in 2017, I was trying to pick up sub-contracting work for other landscape design companies. Then, when the pandemic hit in 2019/2020, most of that work dried up and I went all-in on further establishing and growing Habitat Landscape Consulting. We now have numerous boutique hospitality and high-end residential projects in our portfolio and continue to grow our client base while working with a number of repeat clients. We have a small but mighty team and an office in Brickell where we work a flexible/hybrid schedule while doing our best to deliver exceptional service and continue to evolve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I want to say the Covid collapse of 2019/2020 was a pivotal moment. Many projects went on hold, and I was a freelance designer at the time. Basically all of my work stopped with the companies that had been providing me with a constant flow. It forced me to reevaluate my priorities and really focus on building my own brand. Fortunately, the timing was also when a number of people decided that outdoor space was a priority, so landscape became a major focus. In some ways it was a blessing because people were flocking to South Florida from places like NYC, and at the same time, they were prioritizing being outdoors and realizing the value that landscape architecture creates. I still continue to struggle with managing work load vs. personnel. In the design/consulting industry it seems very difficult to maintain an even cash flow with projects starting/stopping and delayed payment schedules. Scaling while maintaining efficiency & profit is something I continue to struggle with and would like to improve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
HABITAT was founded by the pursuit of adding value to hospitality and residential projects through the use of landscape. We are dedicated to creating the best outdoor spaces for people to interact with; connecting them with nature and with others. We really study what makes a place special and how to create a sense of environment based on landscape. We also have created an approach that blends interior and exterior landscape to increase the end-user interaction with natural environments.
From the very beginning of a project, we try to be involved. Helping the client develop the landscape concept, theme, parameters, and design criteria for the overall project experience. From the early stages of site analysis through construction, we provide full service landscape architecture. This includes conceptual design, design development, construction documents, specifications and permit drawings. We want to make sure the outdoor spaces get the same amount of attention and consideration as the rest of the project while also ensuring that the design team continues to uphold the quality, standards, and parameters specific to each property. Additionally, we believe in creating functioning ecosystems where plant diversity, material selection, and composition are crucial to creating habitat. We tend to steer away from manicured / artificial landscapes that do not reflect nature or provide a diverse ecosystem.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I loved, Art, LEGO and being outdoors. I basically grew up on a ranch in Kansas where I would go hunting, fishing, and riding horses with my family. However, I also desired a very urban life. I think everything changed when I was a teenager and went on a family trip to NYC and could feel the energy of an urban environment for the first time. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Europe which increasingly developed an appreciation for understanding other cultures, food, languages, and a sincere appreciation for diversity in all aspects.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.habitatlc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/habitat.lc
Image Credits
Roberto Wallace Photography Soho House & Co.
