Genus Loci: Creating Landscapes that Endure Beyond Design

While her early years strengthened her appreciation for thoughtful design, her international experience expanded her perspective on regional master planning, integrated urban landscapes, and large-scale environmental planning.

Established in 2018 following her return to India, Genus Loci has since evolved into a collaborative practice comprising landscape architects, architects, visualisers, and technical specialists who work closely with architects, engineers, and ecologists. “The firm’s portfolio spans educational institutions, integrated townships, residential communities, recreational parks, and master-planned developments across South India, with each project reflecting a commitment to ecological integrity and long-term resilience”, says Arati Chari, Founder.

Where Sustainability Becomes Design

For Genus Loci, sustainability is not an additional layer incorporated into a project after the design is complete - it is the framework upon which every design decision is built. The firm approaches landscape architecture as an environmental discipline that works with natural systems rather than against them.

This philosophy is particularly relevant in cities such as Chennai, where recurring floods, groundwater depletion, and rising urbanisation demand innovative landscape solutions. Across its projects, Genus Loci integrates detention ponds, retention ponds, rain gardens, green roofs, energy and water saving techniques, native vegetation, and other forms of green infrastructure that improve water and soil management while strengthening ecological resilience.

Equally significant is the firm’s emphasis on biodiversity and community well-being. Rather than creating ornamental landscapes that rely heavily on resource-intensive maintenance, the practice advocates urban forestry, groundwater recharge, edible landscapes, and the preservation of existing vegetation wherever possible. These landscapes become thriving ecosystems that support birds, butterflies, and local flora while simultaneously providing healthier and more engaging spaces for people.

“The firm’s design philosophy also extends beyond environmental performance. Every landscape is envisioned as a place that encourages social interaction, strengthens community identity, and enhances physical and mental well-being. By seamlessly integrating functionality, aesthetics, and ecological performance, Genus Loci demonstrates that beautiful landscapes can also be resilient, productive, and environmentally restorative”, mentions Arati Chari.

Creating Landscapes that Challenge Convention

Among the firm’s most distinctive ongoing projects is the landscape design for a large Innovation Building in an Educational Institution in Hyderabad – under execution, now. The project reimagines the relationship between architecture and landscape by transforming the roof of a large three-story parabolic shell into a contiguous forest cover above the building shell.

Rather than treating the roof as conventional open space, the natural landscape designed entirely wraps over the building, allowing the structure to visually merge into its natural forest surroundings. The Landscape Design Concept revolves around ecological restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable site stewardship.

Projects such as these illustrate Genus Loci’s ability to combine technical complexity with ecological innovation. Equally rewarding for the team is witnessing completed landscapes evolving into thriving habitats over time, where restored ecosystems naturally attract birds, butterflies, and diverse plant life. These outcomes reinforce the firm’s belief that landscape architecture should leave behind functioning ecosystems rather than the merely aesthetic or functional aspect of open spaces.

Advancing Landscape Architecture for a Resilient Future

As awareness around climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable urban development continues to grow, Genus Loci sees significant opportunities for landscape architecture to play a far more strategic role in India’s development journey. Looking ahead, the firm’s vision extends beyond expanding its portfolio.

It seeks to contribute to larger regional and environmental projects where landscape architecture can shape ecosystems, strengthen urban resilience, and influence planning at a broader scale. Anchored by its enduring philosophy of respecting the “spirit of the place,” Genus Loci continues to demonstrate that the future of landscape architecture lies not only in creating exceptional spaces, but in restoring the ecological balance upon which resilient cities ultimately depend.