1. Landscape Architecture
Design Portfolio
JOAN TACHADO

2. Contents
 Curriculum Vitae
 Professional Work Experience
 Major Projects
 Other Additional Work Experience

3. Curriculum Vitae
Name: Joan Tachado
Address: Tarneit, Victoria, Australia
Contact Nos : +61424798937
+61478388283
E-mail address: j_tachado@yahoo.com
Personal Data
Tertiary Education:
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, 2001
College of Architecture,
University of the Philippines
Top 2% of the graduating class
Awards & Citations Received:
Best in Landscape Design Series
Best in Thesis, Philip H. Recto Design Excellence
Awardee for the thesis entitled “ A Government
Center for Antipolo City: A Civic Place in a
Protected Area”
Best in Planting Design
Best in Planting Materials
Professional Work Experience:
 Milne Constructions, Victoria, Australia
(March 2014-current)
 JMT Landscape Design Solutions, Philippines
(July 2013- )
 City Government of Antipolo, Philippines
(June 2011-June 2013)
 Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company (CEC),
United Arab Emirates
(June 2007- Jan 2011)
 Casa Gardenera (now Ascot Landscaping LLC) Dubai, United
Arab Emirates
(March 2006- May 2007)
 City Government of Antipolo, Philippines
(September 2001- February 2006)

4. Major Projects
 Gate District Towers 3-8, Reem Island, Shams Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 Dubai World Central (now Al Maktoum International Airport), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Platinum Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Pearl Jumeirah Island Development, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Al Ajlan Tower, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 Malaomaoan Island Development, Sorsogon, Philippines
 A Government Center for Antipolo City, Philippines
 A Butterfly Garden for Hinulugan Taktak Protected Landscape

5. The Gate District Towers 3-8, Al Reem Island,
Shams, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Project Description:
The Gate District Towers 3-8 is located
on two plots (Plot C-12 & C-13) in Al
Reem Island, Shams Abu Dhabi and
consists of six towers featuring a bridge
that boost various facilities connecting
towers 3 to 6.
With residential towers, modern offices
and high caliber shopping and hotel
accommodation, the Landscape Master
Plan is designed to play a positive role in
creating the feeling of a unique world
class community. There are three parts
to the Master Plan. First is the ground
plane, between the Loop Roads and the
building which projects an upscale image
of the project to all those driving past it
on the Loop Roads, and creates formal
dignified approaches to the building for
residents and guests.
Second is the landscape design for the
podium. The podium is where all the
outdoor amenities for the property are
located. The design for this part of the
property is more informal suited to the
recreational nature of the activities; and
the architectural forms are more playful.
Third is the landscape design for the
“cutouts” of Towers 7 and 8. Each of
these components of the landscape has
unique design criteria, design forms , and
relationships with its surrounds.

6. The Gate District Towers 3-8, Al Reem Island,
Shams, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
My Involvement in the Project:
• Concept Design Work
• Schematic Design Work
• Design Development
• Construction Documentation
• Value Engineering
• Material Specifications
Project Description:
The podium at the Gate District
Towers is a large landscape courtyard
on the 5th floor comprised of separate
but linked areas. A wide range of uses
are provided within the podium which
include tennis courts, a multi-purpose
court, outdoor café, large swimming
pools, kiddie pools with tent
structure, playground, mini-golf,
water features, and lawn areas for
picnicking, croquet, structured classes
or just for a rest on the grass. Private
outdoor spaces enclosed with raised
planters are also provided for most of
the residential units on the podium.
Total overall project cost is pegged at
$2 Billion while landscape budgetary
cost is $25 Million

7. The Gate District Towers 3-8, Al Reem Island,
Shams, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
CUT-OUTS OR WINDOWS IN THE SKY
Each Cut-out or Window in the Sky of Towers 7
and 8 is designed as a “pocket park” for people
who live close by and has an artistic blending of
forms, colors, and materials.
The main challenges in this
concept/undertaking are:
1. how to bring those plants on various levels.
2. how to maintain these plants esp. with strong
winds and different humidity levels in those
areas
3. various air/mechanical vents scattered in all
floors that has to be covered and levels that
have to be adjusted upon…

8. Project Description:
Dubbed as the world’s largest airport having seven
(7) runways, the Dubai World Central (now Al
Makthoum International Airport) sits on a vast
expanse of land covering 140 square kilometers. It
spans 10 kilometers between the Emirates Road
and the Outer Bypass corridor, which is located 40
kilometers away from Dubai’s central business
district.
The desert environment and varied landforms
provide tremendous landscape design challenges
and attendant opportunities. Environmental
characteristics of the site are demanding and call
for innovative approaches in landscape design.
DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL (now AL MAKTHOUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT)
KA&ME will transform this site into a
distinctive resource for Dubai, elevating Dubai
World Central Airport City to the global
stature that it requires. The Airport City
Master Plan will describe a development
scenario that will establish a design direction
for Airport City, and will establish a level of
quality in terms of materials, and level of
detailing necessary to have a built
environment of a global stature. This plan
will also identify potential landscape areas
and identify the appropriate level of
Landscape Design Intensity. The plan will also
describe a general design context for each
Airport City component. This will serve as a
guide for the specific landscape design
concepts to be generated in the Schematic
Design Phase for each area of Airport City.
My Involvement in the Project:
Assisted in the formulation of Landscape
Design Guidelines and preparation of DWC
Airport City Conceptual Landscape Master
Plan Report for the whole development under
KAME (Khatib & Alami and Metcalf & Eddy)

9. Project Description:
Platinum Towers is a 29-storey commercial & residential tower at the entrance of Business Bay,
Dubai. The Tower Complex will include state of the art spa, sauna health club, swimming pools,
restaurants and other facilities. The Landscape Architecture scope includes several levels of
podiums. The design concept for the landscapes of these podiums is envisioned to be a modern
landscape that complements the overall appearance of the building. Also, the landscape design
seeks to achieve balance and symmetry as can be seen in the formally organized walkways and
planters that follow the geometric shape of the tower. Terraced planters with selection of trees,
both flowering and canopy to provide shade to joggers and leisure walkers, as well as an array of
ornamental shrubs and ground covers help soften the rigidity on both sides of these jogging
paths. This helps achieved the effect of a “soft” environment that complements the layout of
the tower while maintaining modern architectural character through details and materials. The
idea is to have a minimalist design approach yet taking into consideration all the necessary
attributes of a modern landscape, simple yet elegant and functional.
My Involvement in the project:
• Concept Design
• Schematic Design
• LEED Accreditation
• Design Development
PLATINUM TOWERS,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

10. The PEARL JUMEIRAH ISLAND, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Project Overview:
Pearl Jumeira Master Plan presents a celebration along the Dubai Shore through built form, landscape, land
use and environment response. The natural feature and attributes of the site , including the ground condition
and the landform would generate a unique built form response and sense of place for the residential
precinct.
Pearl Jumeira is an attractive amenity for residents and visitors alike. It offers a range of activities for people
of all ages, and has helped shape the character of Dubai shoreline. The development promotes active and
passive pursuits in a manner that is compatible with the quality of the site. More specifically, the
development…..
Offers public access to the water
Invites people to enjoy a stroll along the water edges
Provides recreational activities for all ages
Includes ample parking and access to all developments
Offers accommodations in an attractive area for out of town guests
Preserves the natural and serene setting of the town
My involvement in the project:
Overall streetscaping, taking into considerations the character of each neighborhood, use and
nature of road/street, as well as other amenities and utilities in and around the development.

11. Project Overview:
Al Ajlan Tower is a high rise, mixed
used development at the heart of
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It features a
garden with an interior pool and
jacuzzi at the roof top level,
providing a magnificent view of the
City as the backdrop. Ground plane
landscape concept is simple, direct,
yet elegant using materials such as
granite cobbles, natural granite and
concrete pavers.
My involvement in the project:
Initial Concept Planning
Schematic Design
Design Development
Construction Documentation
AL AJLAN TOWERS, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

12. MALAOMAOAN ISLAND RESORT, Sorsogon, Philippines
Overview of the Project:
Malaomaoan Island is a 30-hectare privately
owned island in Sorsogon Bay and San
Bernardino Strait, off the Province of
Sorsogon. From a bird’s eye view, it is shaped
like a tadpole. The island has powdery white
sand and is rich in flora and fauna with closely
arrayed rows of coconut trees, a forest canopy
and other fruit bearing trees. It is also teeming
with marine wildlife with coral reefs within its
vicinity. The island also offers a magnificent
view of the pride of Albay and the Philippines-
the world’s most perfect cone shaped volcano-
the Mount Mayon.
With great potential for ecotourism-related
activities, the island will feature several
distinct sets of accommodations that will cater
to different needs and tastes of visitors. These
are tents, cottages, villas, the seaside cottages,
and the spa village with private kiosks and
cabanas.
Rows of coconut trees abound in the island, that greet visitors
both seeking adventure and quiet respite ....
Design Concept
Malaomaoan Island resort is envisioned
to complement the tourism circuit of
Sorsogon province and is conceived as:
“A world class nature island resort
development that preserves its natural
biodiversity while introducing
ecologically-sound initiatives.”
Aside from various accommodations, amenities planned for the
development include view decks, boardwalks, canopy walks,
forest trails, bird observatory, and outdoor restaurants. The
Island resort will also cater to water-based activities such as sea
canoeing, swimming, scuba diving and snorkelling aside from
other land-based activities that may include trekking, fishing,
bird-watching, sight-seeing and participate/observe the villagers
in the planned community-based livelihood and craft center.
A view of Malaomaoan island with portions of its sand
bar as one approaches the northeastern side ...

13. The BUTTERFLY GARDEN, Hinulugan Taktak Protected
Landscape, Antipolo, Philippines
Project Overview:
A Butterfly Garden for Hinulugan Taktak Protected Landscape was conceived as
an added amenity to the famed waterfall in the City of Antipolo. The proposed
site is located at the right side of the waterfalls facing the falling water. The
site was selected because it is the only area in the vicinity that receives ample
sunlight during daytime. Although, the terrain presents a bit of challenge
because of the steep slopes, the concept of a terraced garden with viewing
decks is more inviting and interesting and presents an additional feature for the
butterfly garden..
For a successful butterfly garden, the following are some design considerations:
• Host plants should be present for caterpillars
• Nectar plants should be available for adult butterflies
• The area must get plentiful sunshine
• The garden should have wet sand or mud puddles in shady corners (butterflies
can get thirsty too)
• There should be protection from high winds
• Environment should be kept healthy and free of insecticides because these
chemicals may also harm the caterpillars and butterflies.

14. A LINEAR PARK @ Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A waterfront park in a 40 x 600 meter land was
planned by a local government in Saudi Arabia to be
developed. Along with this, two options of
conceptual design were prepared. Option 1 is more
of a relaxed, naturalistic approach with informal
gardens and curvilinear pathwalks. It also features a
water feature, plaza and pavilion with seating area.
Option 2 features several play area for sports enthusiasts with
a mini-golf, a tennis court and 2 volleyball courts. The spaces
are more structured and showcases an interactive water
feature, mini amphitheatre, kid’s play area and a plaza with
gazebo.

15. The VILLAS @ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

16. Villa Landscape Plan & Details,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A refreshing green pool with intricate stone work & trellis@ Arabian ranches…..
An infinity pool with cascading water feature at Emirates Hills…