For environmentally sensitive landscaping

Here's a bit of information about us:

Our mission statement:  " Integrating mankind with the environment "

Our business was established in 1994 and originally known as AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

We have always been based in the beautiful valley of Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and have providing the residents and businesses of Cape Town with top quality landscape design and construction. Our emphasis has always been on creating outdoor spaces that meld with the environment, making use of indigenous and low water use plants.

LIVINGSCAPES cc ( closed corporation ) was formed in 2004 as a legal entity to incorporate African Environmental Projects as we thought that a name change would freshen our image and besides the fact that the old name was a mouthful.

We currently employ  six full time staff who have all been trained on the job over the last ten years. From time to time we hire casual gardeners from a pool of experienced people when required. We have always strived to remain small and effective and at no point dreamed about building an empire - our clients come first.

The people behind the business are:

MARK KRETZMANN 

Mark was born in Johannesburg in 1964. Most of his school career took place in the city of East  London, South Africa. After completing his compulsory military service he received a bursary to study Horticulture at Cape Technikon. In 1989 he completed the National Diploma in Horticulture, followed by a BSc in Botany and Environmental studies at the University of Cape Town. He established a retail nursery and landscaping business in 1993 which was later sold to enable him to begin studying for a Landscape architecture degree. Five years ago he joined Craig Dunlop of African Environmental Projects as a project manager later to take over the day to day running of that business until it was incorporated and renamed Livingscapes. Mark is passionate about designing gardens that serve the environment and is very particular when choosing plants.

CRAIG DUNLOP

Born in Cape Town in 1965 and raised in the Constantia Valley on the Peninsula. After matriculating at Wynberg Boys High School in 1983, he completed two years military service before moving to London and Jersey U.K. for two years. In the U.K. the landscaping bug bit and he worked on many landscaping projects as a junior gardener, cutting his teeth in this industry. Upon his return to Cape Town, he worked for a prominent landscaping company and gained experience in the construction of sportsfields, bowling greens, commercial and residential landscaping. during this time he completed a National Diploma in Horticulture at Cape Technikon and in 1991 he went out on his own and opened a small retail nursery and landscaping business in Hout Bay. Three years later the nursery was changed to a wholesale operation and the business became known as African Environmental Projects. This business went well and many projects were successfully completed - the flagship being Ruyteplaats Private estate in Hout Bay. In 2000, Mark Kretzmann joined the business and a good partnership was forged. Last year the name African Environmental Projects was changed to Livingscapes with Mark at the helm, and Craig taking the backseat to pursue his other career as a tour guide. As a tour guide Craig is flexible with his time and this enables him to still be active in the landscaping business. He loves landscaping and prides himself on his practical problem solving abilities when tackling a difficult project.

Photo to come

PAT XHALA

Pat was born in the Eastern Cape in 1963. He was schooled in the same area, but as with many black South Africans during the apartheid era - he left school to go and work on the gold mines of Johannesburg. He joined African Environmental Projects in the mid nineties as a general labourer and quickly rose to the position of head gardener. He has learnt his gardening skills on the job and today is a well respected landscaper. He has an eye for detail and a flair for design, often bringing in an authentic African feel to our gardens. He is married with 3 children and lives in Hout Bay

Photo to come

THE LIVINGSCAPES TEAM

Most of our team have been with the company since inception. Over the years they have been trained on the job, being groomed for certain aspects of landscaping as natural skills became apparent. All our staff are Hout Bay residents

Home Page | Projects | About us | Contact us