Beatriz Watanabe: Designing Healing Landscapes at Texas A&M
From urban spaces to healthcare facilities, Beatriz Watanabe is creating a future where nature heals.
At Texas A&M University, Beatriz Watanabe, a second-year Master of Landscape Architecture student, is driven by a profound desire to create spaces that nurture well-being. Her vision extends beyond the aesthetics, focusing on designing healing environments that reconnect people with nature, particularly within healthcare settings.
“After graduation, I plan to work with healthcare facilities focusing on creating healing environments where people can feel welcome and reconnected with nature,” Beatriz said. “I want to leverage landscape architecture as a tool for positive change.”
Foundations for Impact
Watanabe said she’s been positively influenced by highly impactful courses and professors during her time at the College of Architecture. One of her favorite classes, “Open Space and Land Use Planning I,” has been transformative.
“This course has been particularly engaging because it has allowed me to delve deeper into the integration of sustainable practices in urban environments, and the principles of creating spaces for everyone,” she said.
The design-focused course equipped her with invaluable insights and practical skills, laying a strong foundation for her future career. She said she appreciated the course’s emphasis on creating inclusive and sustainable spaces, reflecting her own values and aspirations.
Nature, Art and Science
“When I am developing work, the desire to learn more about how to create spaces that positively impact people’s lives by fostering healing, relaxation, play, and reconnection with nature is what motivates me,” she said.
It’s a challenge to blend art, nature and science to create functional and aesthetically pleasing landscapes, she said, but it excites her.
One of her favorite projects she’s completed is a master plan and design strategy developed for Hensel Park, a university-owned facility with playgrounds, hiking trails and picnic area in College Station, Texas.
“Our focus was to create a welcoming space by proposing activities for all groups of the community, while connecting people with nature,” Beatriz said.
Texas A&M: A Hub for Aspiring Landscape Architects
Watanabe’s experience at Texas A&M underscores the university’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and enriching education in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning for students who want to positively impact the world around them.
The program’s emphasis on sustainable practices, community engagement, and innovative design prepares students to become leaders in the field. Learn more here.
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