transverse studio is a multidisciplinary design, research and engagement consultancy, with a focus on the planning, design and activation of vibrant and sustainable urban places.
Services include: landscape and urban design; community and stakeholder engagement; placemaking and public art strategy, activation plans and execution; project management; policy, planning and environmental research and analysis; writing and editing for reports, grants, presentations and websites; and event and exhibition design, curation and coordination.
Melissa Cate Christ is the founding director of transverse studio. She is a registered landscape architect (AILA No. 9852 OALA CSLA) and a Lecturer at UNSW. Melissa’s art and design research and practice explores mechanisms of critical intervention at the juncture of landscape, culture, urbanism, and infrastructure. Melissa has worked in multiple Built Environment programs across three continents, including as a Sessional Academic at the University of Technology Sydney, a Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, a Research Assistant Professor of Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, and a lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto. She has also worked professionally in award-winning place strategy, landscape architecture, and urban design firms, including Hoyne, GGN, and DTAH. Melissa has a PhD from UNSW, a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from St. John’s College.
Current and past collaborators include: Bing Han, Tom Oliver Payne, Alicia Gonzales, Melina Soltavi, Burcu Yigit Turan, Cristina Cerulli, Hendrik Tieben, Andrew Toland, EDITED, Caritas Hong Kong, Scott Dietrich, Leo Cheung, Aporia, Adam Cox, Nicci Ng, the Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Group, Allen Wyama, Time to Grow, the Fringe Club, the Pound Lane Concern Group, the Asia Art Archive, Suzanne Trumpf, Tiago Patatas, Wang Wei Jia, Wai Wai Chan, Anson Wong, Robert Klugman, Etienne Turpin, Daisy Tam, Anthony Pins, Anita Dawood, Kaka Chan, Seth Denizen, Au Wing Yan, Max Willis, Gilles Vanderstocken, May Chan Ka Ying, Issac Chui Ho Wan, Natalie Law Wai Yan, Monique Wong Hui Yan, Olive Wong Lok Yan, Tony Yuen Chun Yin, Rose Tan, Adam Bobbette, Maxime Decaudin, Victor Yuen Chi Yan, Yvonne Xu Meng, Freda Yu Yi Ren, Joshua Leung, Lance Wong, Alex Lee, Jason Ng, Vicky Lam, Twiggy Ngo, Patrick Keegan and Amy Turner.