Realm Studios

What Realm Studios does

REALMstudios is a privately held Australian landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning practice founded in 2013 by Jon Shinkfield, with a second Founding Director, Damien Pericles. The firm operates from five studios across Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane) and serves three primary client segments: local and state government agencies, universities and educational institutions, and private clients seeking bespoke landscape regeneration. Its core methodology is the proprietary 'Readings, Research, Realisation' framework, which structures engagements around cultural heritage analysis, multi-disciplinary research with practitioners including Aboriginal advisors, ecologists, and hydrologists, and design realisation grounded in Country-led principles and integrated GIS analysis.

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services fees for engagements ranging from strategic advisory through to detailed documentation for external works. It secures work via competitive tendering for public sector projects and direct commission for private clients, supplemented by referrals through its professional network. REALMstudios has accumulated AILA recognition including 2024 VIC and National Landscape Architecture Awards for the Logan Avenue Garden project, a 2023 AILA Landscape Planning Award, and a 2025 PIA Tasmania shortlist. Notable clients include City of Stirling, University of Tasmania, Tasman Council, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Victoria University, and Woods Bagot (as architectural partner on the UTas Forestry Building restoration).

The firm maintains strategic partnerships with Woods Bagot, Grounded Studio, SGS Economics & Planning, Ireneinc Planning, and Monash University's Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. Ownership is founder-controlled with no external investment, no disclosed funding rounds, and no public listing. The practice employs 11-50 staff across its five studios and concentrates exclusively on the Australian market.

Name

Realm Studios

Legal name

REALMstudios

Website

https://realmstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REALMstudios is an Australian landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning practice founded in 2013, operating from five capital-city studios and serving government agencies, universities, and private clients via its proprietary 'Readings, Research, Realisation' Country-led design framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Urban design consulting
• Master planning services
• Strategic planning advisory
• City making design

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Services: Professional design consulting services including master planning, urban design, and landscape architecture. Revenue generated through project-based fees for design and advisory services from strategic planning through to detailed documentation for external works.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

REALMstudios is a master planning, urban design, and landscape architecture practice delivering services from strategic advisory through to detailed documentation for external works. Operating across five Australian studios (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane), the firm applies its 'Readings, Research, Realisation' framework to public realm, civic, campus, and private landscape projects focused on city making and liveability.

Product overview

REALMstudios is a landscape architecture and urban design firm offering a unified suite of services rather than discrete software products. Their core offering encompasses master planning, urban design, strategic advisory, and landscape architecture services, organized around the 'Readings, Research and Realisation' framework. The firm delivers projects across scales—from large precinct planning to intimate public realm interventions—organized into project categories including awards work, large-scale projects, medium-scale developments, small interventions, and research/communication initiatives. The practice operates from five Australian studios (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane) and focuses on city making and liveability, integrating urban ecology with community and place-making principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Services Master planning, urban design, and landscape architecture services focused on city making and liveability, guided by principles of urban ecology, community, and place-making for government, education, and private clients.
• Strategic Planning and Advisory Strategic advisory services delivered through a design lens, from initial conceptual stages through to detailed documentation for external works, including structure plans and regional frameworks.
• Research and Communication Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Landscape Architecture Award for Gardens at AILA VIC Landscape Architecture Awards 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Woods BagotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on University of Tasmania Forestry Building restoration project. Woods Bagot serves as architecture partner while REALMstudios leads landscape architecture. Project involves restoring iconic heritage-listed structure with 13-metre glass-domed atrium featuring temperate rainforest ecosystem.
• Grounded StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located studio collaboration with Grounded Studio on Country-led projects including Logan Avenue Garden, Victoria University's Moondani Balluk, and Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre. Both practices enriched by cross-disciplinary inquiry and diverse experience of their people.
• SGS Economics & PlanningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in delivering Tasman Region Structure Plan. SGS provided economics and planning expertise alongside REALMstudios' landscape architecture for the integrated regional development framework.
• Ireneinc PlanningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in delivering Tasman Region Structure Plan. Ireneinc provided planning expertise as part of the project team developing the integrated framework for the Tasman Peninsula region.
• Monash University / Monash CRC for Water Sensitive CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing working relationship with Monash University's Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. Collaboration exploring application of water-based research through design. Founding Director Jon Shinkfield works in parallel with Monash on water sensitive cities research.
• Various UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaintenance of working relationships with universities supporting research agenda and practice evolution. Includes collaborations on case-study based investigations and access to academic research and student talent pipeline.
• Dr Paola BallaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal cultural advisor and co-design partner on Victoria University's Moondani Balluk project. Involved in iterative co-design process for Country-responsive landscape design.
• Koling wada ngalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWadawurrung Traditional Owner group engaged in deep consultation for Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre project. Collaborative partner in courtyard design that holds space for both culture and ecology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hassell: Large Australian-headquartered architecture and landscape architecture practice with integrated urban design studios across Australia and globally. Directly competes with REALMstudios for civic, university, and precinct commissions, but at materially larger scale and broader service offering.
• FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp): Major Australian architecture and urban design firm with integrated landscape capability. Larger and broader than REALMstudios, but overlaps on civic, institutional, and precinct-scale commissions.
• OCULUS (now Populous Landscape): Landscape architecture and master planning arm of large global sports/architecture firm Populous. Comparable public realm and landscape capability, but operates within much larger parent organisation.

Direct peers

• Tract Consultants: Australian landscape architecture and urban design practice with offices in multiple states. Closely comparable to REALMstudios in scale, service mix (master planning, urban design, landscape architecture), and public sector client base.
• McGregor Coxall: Australian landscape architecture and urban design practice known for water-sensitive and ecologically driven projects. Highly comparable to REALMstudios given shared focus on water-sensitive design and Monash CRC adjacency.
• Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL): Award-winning Australian landscape architecture firm with strong cultural and ecological design focus. Comparable to REALMstudios in studio model, AILA award profile, and emphasis on country/ecological-led design.
• ASPECT Studios: Multi-studio Australian landscape architecture practice with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and other capitals. Direct competitor for urban design, public realm, and master planning commissions.
• Rush\Wright Associates: Melbourne-based architecture, landscape, and urban design practice with comparable civic and cultural project portfolio. Competes in similar master planning and urban design commissions in Victoria and nationally.

Emerging players

• Grounded Studio: Smaller Australian practice collaborating with REALMstudios on Country-led projects including Logan Avenue Garden. Comparable in design philosophy but smaller scale; a collaborator/peer in the Aboriginal-led landscape niche.

Regional players

• WALA (Western Australian Land Authority / DevelopmentWA advisors): Listed only if a comparable WA-anchored peer exists — omitted due to uncertainty.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/realmstudios
• Instagraminstagram.com/realmstudios_
• Facebookfacebook.com/REALMstudios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Realm Studios