Heike Kaiser
born in Winterberg, NRW, Germany
lived, studied & worked in Kassel, Germany 2002-2011
studied in Hamburg, Germany 2011-2012
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lived & worked in Tel Aviv, Israel 2012-2015
traveled in Europe & Asia
lived & worked in San Francisco, CA 2016-2023
traveled in the US & Asia
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currently living & working in Berlin, Germany
married & mother of two kids
professional skills
> excellent communication skills gained through working in international project groups;
> curiosity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving attitude;
> a customer- and team-oriented working approach;
> profound experience in project management and team organization;
> ability to easily adapt to dynamic environments and differing customer constellations;
> a fast and self-motivated learner;
> a confident, friendly and relaxed character by nature.
certifications
06/04/2018
LEED Green Associate
ID #11248087
U.S. Green Building Council
Green Business Certification Inc.
work experience in brief
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since 10 / 2023
Consulting landscape designer & Project lead
Kastaniengärten Schwedter Straße, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
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2020 - 2023
Landscape Architectural Associate I - Public Service
San Francisco Department of Public Works, Building Design & Construction Division
2017 - 2019
Senior landscape design professional
HOK Ltd., Planning & Landscape Architecture Section, San Francisco, CA
08 / 2017
Landscape design aid
Creo Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, San Francisco, CA
2016 – 2017
Plants collections assistant / Gardening team leader
San Francisco Botanical Garden Society
2012 – 2015
Landscape designer with experience
Braudo-Maoz Landscape Architecture Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel
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2009
Landscape design consultant - Landscape Planning Division
JNF-KKL Land Development Authority of Israel, Northern District
2006 – 2008
Freelance landscape planner
akp_ Urban Planning & Regional Development, Kassel, Germany
2005 – 2006 Design intern – Gideon Sarig Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning Ltd., Tel Aviv
2003 – 2004 Planning intern – akp_ Urban Planning & Regional Development, Kassel, Germany
2003 – 2008 Seasonal gardener – Lütteken Landscape Gardening, Winterberg, Germany
2002 Gardening intern – Pohlmann Landscape Gardening, Winterberg, Germany
IT skills
Autodesk AutoCAD & Civil3D
CS Artisan Landscape
Planting F/X
Lands Design
Revit & Environment
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VectorWorks
AllPlan
SketchUp
Rhino
V-Ray
Grasshopper
Lumion
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ESRI ArcGIS
QuantumGIS
Biosphere 3D
AVA Orca
Procore
Pathfinder
Adobe CS Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Connect
FreeMind
Cmap Tools
Visual Understanding Environment (VUE)
MS Office Word Excel, Powerpoint, Teams, Outlook
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BluBleam Revu
academic experience in brief
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2012
Guest lecturer – International Master of Landscape Architecture (IMLA) program
Nuertingen-Geislingen University, Germany and LE:NOTRE Institute of ECLAS
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2010 – 2015
Social media editor – LE:NOTRE Institute
European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS)
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2010 – 2011
Project coordinator – “EU–Teach” collaborative research project
Kassel University, Germany
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2007 – 2011
Teaching assistant and lecturer – International seminars and workshops
Kassel University, Germany and LE:NOTRE Institute
languages
English: Fluent – oral and written
German: Fluent - oral and written
Spanish: Basic – oral and written
Hebrew: Limited working proficiency
Latin: Limited working proficiency
interests
Landscape photography
Draught-tolerant plants
Interior design / Architecture
Traveling / Hiking / Global cultures
Healthy nutrition
Yoga / TRX / Nordic walking
education
​​HafenCIty University Hamburg, Germany -
Urban Design
2011 - 2013
Urban Metamorphosis (PhD. Eng. cand.)
five-year doctorate program, discontinued
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Kassel University, Germany -
School of Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture & Landscape Planning
2007 - 2010
Landscape Architecture and Planning, Master of Science (MSc.)
two-year graduate program, completed with honors and written thesis (150p.)
GPA: 4.0 / A+ / 99 pts / German grade: 1.1
Extracurricular activities: Student and staff representative in the Academic Council
2002 - 2007
Landscape Planning, Diploma of Engineering Degree (Dipl.-Ing. / Eng.)
five-year undergraduate program, completed with honors and written thesis (240p.)
GPA: 4.0 / A / 96 pts / German grade: 1.4
Extracurricular activities: Co-Chair in the German Federal Landscape Students Association
achievements
Awards:
2023 - Merit Award in General Design: Workday Campus + Innovation Plaza in Pleasanton, CA (USA) Issued by ASLA New York Chapter
2019 - First place in the design competition for VISA Global Headquarters, Foster City, CA (USA)
together with HOK SF Interiors
2018 - First prize in the Architecture of Israel Project of the Year competition,
landscape category: Dead Sea Promenade (ISR)
2015 - First prize in the professional competition for the Rishon LeZion New Media Center (ISR)
2014 - Israeli Association of Builders’ Excellence Award (1st): Porter School of Environmental Studies (ISR)
2014 - Israeli Green Building Diamond and LEED Platinum Certification (92):
Porter School of Environmental Studies (ISR)
2012 - Second prize in the Architecture of Israel Project of the Year competition,
landscape category: Porter School and Science Promenade (ISR)
2011 - Digital Landscape Architecture (DLA) Award for Scientific Excellence in Teaching Virtual Seminars
Grants:
2011 - LE:NOTRE II Travel Grant for Active Members (Munich and Dessau, D; Sheffield, UK)
2010 - LE:NOTRE II Travel Grant for Active Members (Istanbul, TR)
2010 - German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Grant:
Partial exemption of student loans (25%) for exceptional performance as a graduate student
2008 - German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Travel Grant (Turkey)
2005 - Pfeiffer Foundation Travel Grant (Israel)
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