Meet Our Team

Angelo Carrafa is the Principal and founder of ACLA. With over 23 years of landscape architecture experience he has worked on a range of projects in areas of open space master planning, urban design and renewal, health and aged care, education, recreation and leisure planning, public playspace design, early childhood playspace design and mixed use residential/commercial developments. The implementation of creative designs and the process of technical resolution that leads to the final built outcome generally motivate him.

In 2002 he established ACLA Consultants based on principles of excellent service and an ability to work collaboratively with clients. He has extensive experience in design and the contract documentation and administration of complex projects complemented by methodical management skills.

He also has a persuasive ability to work with contractors to achieve high quality outcomes and is committed to producing practical, sustainable and innovative design solutions. He has completed studies in permaculture and research into sustainable urban communities. From 2006-2010 he was a sessional speaker at RMIT and Melbourne Universities in the syllabus of professional practice and has been actively involved in the mentoring of students and graduates. 

Significant Projects

• Racecourse Road and Pin Oak Crescent Streescape Improvement and Activation Master Plan, Flemington
• Balwyn Library Redevelopment, Balwyn
• Murrumbeena Park Regional Playspace, Murrumbeena
• Brimbank Park Regional Playspace, East Keilor
• Quarry Hills Park Reserve Rest Shelters, South Morang
• Evelyn Street Integrated Streetscape Redevelopment, Frankston
• Church Street Streetscape Master Plan, Whittlesea
• Ti Tree Lodge Aged Care Home, Rosebud West
• Coleman Walk Redevelopment, St. Michael’s Grammar, St.Kilda
• Wilma Hannah Music & Emily Hall, St. Michael’s Grammar, St.Kilda
• Thomastown Recreation & Aquatic Centre Outdoor Recreation Area and Early Childhood Playspace
• QANTAS Joey Club Child Care Centres, Melbourne and Brisbane
• Whittlesea City Sportsfield Master Plans

Caroline is an AILA Registered, Senior Landscape Architect at ACLA Consultants with over eleven years’ professional experience in the field. Caroline brings a creative and practical outlook, delivering sophisticated design solutions to the challenges presented by each project. She strongly believes that great Landscape Architecture can genuinely improve people’s lives and that it is possible to deliver projects that achieve social, environmental, functional and aesthetic qualities. 

 Caroline has a curious mind and aspires to constantly learn, improve, innovate and grow in her professional and personal life. With her growing experience in both, she has developed a passion for mentoring others to help them realise their potential, a relationship she finds both stimulating and fulfilling. As an intersectional feminist, Caroline would also like to be more proactively involved in the remarkable community of women working in the design and construction industries.

Significant Projects

• Packer Park Playspace Upgrade, Carnegie
• Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park Redevelopment, Chadstone
• Romsey Ecotherapy Park, Romsey
• Bayview Park Playspace, Mount Waverley
• Kilmore Creek Master Plan, Kilmore
• Ford Park Community Activity Area, Bellfield
• Hume Global Learning Centre, Sunbury

Originally from the U.K., Lidia moved to Melbourne following the completion of her Masters degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Edinburgh, joining ACLA in 2018. She has a passion for understanding the interwoven complexities of the natural landscape, with particular interest in the design collaboration between sustainability, cultural identity and therapeutic strategies.

She has become an integral part of the team through the diverse projects she has been involved with at ACLA. She endeavours to continue developing her skills and knowledge whilst working closely with both clients and the community.

In her spare time, Lidia likes to take every opportunity she can to explore the outdoors but is also happy to spend days baking and getting lost in a good book.

Significant Projects

• Victoria Park Regional Playspace, Kew
• Lake Pertobe Regional Playspace, Warrnambool

• Belmore School, Balwyn

• Hume Global Learning Centre Stage 2, Sunbury
• Lauriston Girls’ School, Armadale
• Percy Treyvaud Memorial Park, Malvern East
• Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, Ivanhoe
• Spring Gully Primary School, Bendigo

Lu is an AILA Registered Landscape Architect, joining ACLA in 2016 following completion of the Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne. She is passionate about utilising design to enhance community’s quality of life, and has a keen interest in design for childhood with particular emphasis on creating a more imaginative, safe and independent built environment for children to play and learn.

She has been instrumental in the development of concept plans and construction documentation for a number of significant projects and has a natural thirst for learning and exploring the use of new technologies and materials to achieve desirable design outcomes and communicate her ideas with clarity. She enjoys taking yoga and dancing classes in her spare time.

Significant Project

• Stud Park All Abilities Playspace Renewal, Rowville

• Central Gardens Playground Renewal, Hawthorn

• Kelynack Reserve Master Plan, Mill Park
• Waverley Christian College, Wantirna South
• Spring Gully Primary School, Bendigo

• Mill Park Library Landscape Upgrade, Mill Park

• St. Albans Streetscape Improvements, St. Albans