About Me
Aliza Sovani
A registered landscape architect in Canada and France, a graduate of Carleton University’s School of Architecture and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a PhD researcher at the University of Seville.
My work bridges cultural landscapes, environmental ethics, and climate justice across disciplines and geographies, with collaborations spanning
UNESCO, Canadian Geographic, the National Wildlife Federation, the City of Toulouse, the City of Montreal, JML Water
Feature Design, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH).
As co-founder of Earth Tones, an environmentally focused media company amplifying underrepresented voices in climate storytelling, I draw from lived experience to encourage students to approach design as a critical, ethical, and culturally rooted practice.
- IFLA Registered Landscape Architect
Canada AAPQ #767, France FFP - PhD Researcher, University of Seville
- MLA, Harvard GSD
- BAS, Carleton Azrieli School
- English (mother tongue)
- French (bilingual)
- Spanish (advanced)
Education
2024-present
PhD
in progress
Architectural History and Theory
Universidad de Sevilla (Spain)
Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura
2013-2015
Master of Landscape Architecture
Advanced Placement
Harvard University Graduate School of Design (USA)
2007-2012
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
High Distinction / Co-op
Carleton University (Canada)
Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism
Study Term Abroad: Istanbul Technical University (Turkey)
Certifications
2010-present
LEED Green Associate
Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)
2014
Cultural Heritage Research
Institute for Andalusian Historical Heritage (IAPH)
2012
Permaculture Design
The Conscious Design Collective
Select Professional Experience
2020 - present
JML Water Feature Design
Consulting Landscape Architect
Spain
2020
City of Toulouse
Consulting Landscape Architect
France
2019
Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Consulting Landscape Architect
AKTC, Switzerland
2016-2018
Strathmore Landscape Management
Design Director
Montréal, Canada
Academic Research Support
2024
Proyecto WHATS-UP: World Heritage – An Approach to
Social Sustainability through the Updating of Its Cultural Values
Research Team Member
University of Seville/ICOMOS/UNESCO/Real Alcázar of Seville/Junta de Andalucia/Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife/Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico (IAPH).
2014
Planning for Conservation: Urban South Asia Research Seminar, World Monuments
Fund/Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture.
Four-month urban planning research seminar at Harvard University. Project: “An Ecosystemic Perspective to Planning for Conservation in the Yamuna River Valley Corridor, Agra, India.”
2014
Harvard Mellon Initiative in Digital Humanities: Istanbul Urban History Research
Seminar
2014
Aga Khan Documentation Center (AKDC@MIT)
Research Assistant for ArchNET
Archnet is a collaborative Digital Humanities project focused on Islamic Architecture, housed within the MIT School of Architecture.
2014
At the Intersection of Natural and Cultural Heritage: An Overview
of Contemporary Practices in Historic Landscape Conservation as Research at the IAPH and the UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Alhambra and Generalife.”
Research report
Two-month research stay at the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH).
Select Academic Instruction
2026
Visiting Scholar
Carleton University Azrieli's School of Architecture & Urbanism 'ARCH5112 Studio: Materiality & Adaptation & ARCH1222 Lecture: Environment, Design, Climate'
2023
Thesis Awards Adjudicator
Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism
2021
Final Studio Review Design Critic
Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism ‘ARCS 5105 Gateway Studio’
2021
Guest Lecturer
American University of Beirut (AUB) Dpt. of Landscape Design LDEM 208 Landscape History: “Culture, Climate and Conservation”
2021
Guest Lecturer
Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism ARCS 4105 Landscape Theories: “Alternative Practice in Landscape Arch.”
2020
Guest Lecturer
Andalusian Historical Heritage (IAPH) University of Toronto Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design “The Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) Case-Study in Toulouse & Seville.”
2020
Final Studio Review Design Critic
Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism Fourth-year undergraduate Comprehensive Housing & Urbanism Studio
2018
Guest Lecturer on two occasions
University of Toronto Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design LAN1036H: Plants and Design
2016
Guest Lecturer and Semester-long Design Critic
Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism ARCS 4106: Pinecrest Creek Urbanism Studio (4th-year undergraduate)
2015
Teaching Assistant & Guest Lecturer
Harvard University Graduate School of Design HIS4446: A History of Nature Conservation & Cultural Landscape Preservation.
Select Publications
2022
A Sustainable Future: Urban Parks & Gardens
Jodidio, Philip (Editor.) Monreal, L., Rashti, C., Sovani, A., Wescoat, J., Woltz, T. (Authors) H.H. The Aga Khan (Foreword.) (2022). A Sustainable Future: Urban Parks & Gardens (Sovani, A “From Monument to Territory”). Prestel. Munich.
2022
Perspectives on Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development in Toulouse, France
McCartney, S., Solano, S., Vangjeli, S., Zander, H. (Editors) (2022). A Landscape Approach: From Local Communities to Territorial Systems. (Sovani, A “Perspectives on Heritage Conservation and Sustainable Development in Toulouse, France”). International Landscape Collaborative. AR&D Applied Research and Design Publishing. Toronto.
2018
From the South: Global
Perspectives on Landscape & Territory
Biswas, S., Niederost, T., Sciaraffia, F., Zander, H. (Editors) (2018). From the South: Global Perspectives on Landscape & Territory (Sovani, A “Urban Nature Conservation: A Field Perspective’’). International Landscape Collaborative. FONDART grant. Santiago.
2018
PAYSAGES
no.13: La gestion des eaux pluviales. Un enjeu municipal.
Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec (AAPQ) (Editor) (2018). PAYSAGES no.13: La gestion des eaux pluviales. Un enjeu municipal. (Sovani, A “Sur le terrain - Leçons d’experts pour une culture durable des arbres en milieu urbain.”) AAPQ. Montréal.
2016
Housing and Habitus: Craft, Politics and
the Production of Housing in Oaxaca, Mexico
E. Davis, D., Castillo, J., Luo, Y. (Editors) (2016). Housing and Habitus: Craft, Politics and the Production of Housing in Oaxaca, Mexico (Sovani, A “Oaxaca’s Heritage” & “Project 3: Centro del Valles.”) Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) Department of Urban Planning & Design/INFONAVIT Mexico. Cambridge.
