
Michael Hough
Nominating Agency: Toronto and Region Conservation
Michael Hough's distinguished career has progressed through many professional avenues including private consulting practitioner, academic teacher, respected author and community activist. He was the founding partner of Hough, Stansbury & Associates in 1963 and has continued with the firm as it has evolved today into Envision - The Hough Group. He was also a founder of the School of Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto and more recently has taught as Professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, as well as Harvard. Michael has travelled extensively for many years lecturing and providing leadership through academic endeavors and practice. He has lead several generations of landscape architects in Canada and abroad in articulating an ecological view of planning and design that encompasses a consideration of nature and society, as a functioning whole. His books are widely distributed in the world and include Cities and Natural Processes, Out of Place: Restoring Identity to the Regional Landscape and People and City Landscapes.
Trained as an architect and landscape architect, Michael has bridged several professional disciplines to bring a new view to urban design and site planning. He has tirelessly mentored staff for 40 years within his consulting practice, students within various academic programs where he has taught, and through community efforts and volunteer leadership. Over the years, he lead a movement of design thinking that has evolved into a foundation for today's urban agenda for healthier built communities and natural systems. In addition to his writings, and award winning research, Michael has left a legacy of landmark design projects which form anchors in the urban environment at Scarborough College, Ontario Place, Major Hill's Park - Ceremonial Route (Ottawa), and many others here and abroad.
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