Anna Thurmayr

• Diplom - Ingenieur Univ. Landespflege (at that time equivalent of Master of Landscape Architecture), Technical University of Munich.
• Certificate of advanced vocational training in professional desktop publishing and multimedia.
• Certificate in vocational education and training qualifications for crafts sectors (pedagogy for professional vocational training and educational psychology), Technical University of Munich, examination office.

• Co-founder of Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects and Urban Designers.
• CSLA/MALA, licensed as Professional Landscape Architect in Manitoba, Canada.
• ByAK, licensed as Professional Landscape Architect in Bavaria, Germany.

Anna is a licensed landscape architect and has acted as lead designer and project manager on high profile projects in Germany, China and Canada for more than 25 years. Anna is a co-founder of the landscape design practice ‘Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects and Urban Designers’ and a Full Member of both the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA/MALA) and the Bavarian Chamber of Architects in Germany. Over the years Anna has developed fundamental knowledge and technical expertise in landscape design, project organization, project implementation and visual communication.

Anna joined the University of Manitoba as a full-time member of the Department of Landscape Architecture in 2008. The courses Anna teaches in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design have been a great opportunity to introduce students to the rigor of professional practice and to approach existing practices with fresh eyes. Anna advocates a strong knowledge base as the bedrock of landscape design, innovation and risk-taking.

LARC 7330 Landscape Architecture Studio 3
EVLU 4002 Construction Materials
Digital Drawing Workshop
Barkman Concrete Design Competition

Anna’s creative work explores the relationship between people and their landscapes, between architecture and open space, on a variety of scales, from regional planning and urban development through to individual properties. From space and form, to colour and the handling of themes and motifs, Anna attempts to take up positions in all fields of landscape architecture. Virtually all projects involve the difficult task of translating a broad range of requirements, some of which are mutually contradictory, into a landscape architecture design and to communicate the ideas with all parties involved.

Anna’s research on sustainable strategies for parking lots, green roofs, out-door classrooms, the urban tree canopy and public green spaces demonstrates her particular interest in navigating challenges that occur between conception and construction. The creative work of Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects and Urban Designers allows Anna to explore design strategies, to challenge representation techniques, to test materials and alternative construction methods, and to go beyond existing routines. All projects are pro bono work based on the understanding that there is openness to new approaches, innovative ideas and the willingness to take risks.

Research fields
Advanced Doodling - Visualization Techniques in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design
Sustainable Strategies for Urban Open Space Planning and Site Design
Winnipeg‘s Tree Canopy
Field Tests - Alternative Surface Consolidation, Green Roofs and Colours

Since joining the Department of Landscape Architecture Anna’s creative work and outreach activities has been recognized within the professional community as being exceptional, innovative and advancing the profession of landscape architecture. The work has received acclaim and respect at national and international levels. The positive feed-back of a wide range of juries and awarding authorities clearly shows the innovative and research character of this creative work.

2021 CSLA National Award of Excellence. Category: Residential Landscapes.

2019 LILA – Landezine International Landscape Award in the Gardens category.

2019 CSLA Jury’s Award of Excellence 2019. “Rooted in Clay - WY Garden in Winnipeg”

2019 CSLA National Award of Excellence 2019, Category: Residential Landscapes.

2019 CSLA National Award of Excellence 2019, Category: Small-Scale Public Landscapes.

2019 Deutscher Landschaftsarchitektur Preis 2019, selected and shortlisted.

2019 LILA – Landezine International Landscape Award, shortlisted, category Residential Housing.

2017 Western Living Designers of the Year Award.

2016 Carl R. Nelson Jr. Teaching Award, University of Manitoba.

2016 Urban design competition, Regensburger Straße Nürnberg, Germany, 5th prize.

2015 Manitoba Premier’s Award for Design Excellence, Category Landscape Architecture.

2015 CSLA Award of Excellence 2015, Regional Merit Award, Category: Design.

2014 Rosa Barba International Landscape Prize, Finalist. Folly Forest - A Dance Floor for 100 Trees, Manitoba, Winnipeg.

2014 Prairie Design Award 2014, Award of Merit in the Category Landscape Architecture.

2014 CSLA Award of Excellence 2014, National Merit Award, Category: Design.

2014 AZ Award for Design Excellence 2014, Finalist in the Landscape category.

2014 AZ Award for Design Excellence 2014, People’s Choice Award.

2014 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award 2013 in the category of Sustainable Community for Folly Forest.

2013 Deutscher Landschaftsarchitektur Preis 2013: “Würdigung/Commendation“ for Folly Forest.

2013 CSLA Award of Excellence 2013, National Citation Award, Category: New Directions for Folly Forest.

2012 CSLA Award of Excellence 2012, National Merit Award in the Category: Design for Chenshan Botanic Garden.

2012 CSLA Award of Excellence 2012, Regional Merit Award, category: New Directions for Instant Garden.

2012 Western Living Designers of the Year Awards 2012, One To Watch, Landscape Design.

2012 Prairie Design Award 2012, Award of Merit in the Category Landscape Architecture.

2012 Best private plots - Die besten Gärten 2012, Finalist. 2012 AZ Award 2012, Finalist in the Landscape category.

2012 Chinese Design Award for the Chenshan Botanic Garden in Shanghai. 1st price for Outstanding Infrastructural Projects.    

2011 Design Exchange Award in the category Landscape Architecture for the Instant Garden.

2009 Landscape and Urban Design competition Kaufbeuren Neugablonz, Germany, honorable mention.

2008 Best private plots 08 - “Garden Kistler - a Place for Plants and People”, shortlisted.

2008 Landscape and Urban Design competition New South Coburg, 4th prize.

With public speeches, publications, accolades and exhibitions illustrating her work, Anna has promoted landscape architecture as a powerful design discipline and strengthened the reputation of the Faculty and Department as an excellent place of learning and research.

Straub, D., & Thurmayr A. (2021). Jardin sumac garden. Landscapes Paysages, Landscape Architecture in Canada, L’ Architecture de Paysage au Canada, 23(2), 56-57.

Thurmayr A. (2020). Die unendliche Versuchung, das Neue zu entdecken: Ein Muenchner Kindl in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kanada. Nodium: Zeitschrift des Alumni Club Landschaft der TU Muenchen, 12, 20-21.

Thurmayr A. (2019). I love sketching because... Warehouse Journal, 28, 88-89

Thurmayr, A. (2019). Expertise and commitment. Barkman Mixer 09, 32-33.

Thurmayr, A. (2018). Treemocracy: Giving a voice to the voiceless. Landscape Architecture in Canada, L’ Architecture de Paysage au Canada, 20(3),17.

Thurmayr, A. (2018). Saving the city’s shade: Good reasons to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for Winnipeg’s elm trees [Abstract]. CELA 2018 Conference Proceedings, Transforming the Discussion, 173. Retrieved from

Thurmayr, A. (2018). The curious gardener. In U. Weilacher, L. Hopstock & S. Weber, Lehrstuhl für Landschaftsarchitektur und industrielle Landschaft (Eds.), Inspiration High Line (pp. 62-63). Munich: Technical University of Munich.

Thurmayr, A. (2014). Questions and Answers: The gravel lawn. The 2015 Prairie Garden - Western Canada’s only gardening annual: Grasses and Succulents, pp76-80.

Thurmayr, A. (2014). Call before you cut! The importance of tree protection. Atmosphere 2014. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba. Abstract retrieved from http://umanitoba.ca/architecture/atmosphere/presenters-thurmayr.html#thurmayr

Straub D., & Thurmayr, A. (2013). Tactile models carved by binary numbers: Connecting digital and physical design methods. In E. Buhmann, S. Ervin & M. Pietsch (Eds.). Peer reviewed proceedings of Digital Landscape Architecture 2013 at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Berlin and Offenbach, Germany: Herbert Wichmann Verlag, 40-47.

Thurmayr, A. (2013). Manitoba’s best kept secret: Living roofs. The 2014 Prairie Garden - Western Canada’s only gardening annual: 75th Anniversary Edition Gardens, 75, 165-169.

Thurmayr, A. (2012). Materials and Digital Representation. In E. Buhmann, S. Ervin & M. Pietsch (Eds.), Peer reviewed proceedings of Digital Landscape Architecture 2012 at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (147-154). Berlin and Offenbach, Germany: Herbert Wichmann Verlag. Thurmayr, A. (2012). Parking as a creative challenge. The International Journal of the Constructed Environment, 2(4), 81-92.

Thurmayr, A., & Straub, D. (2012). On the Preparation of Images. In E. Buhmann, S. Ervin & M. Pietsch (Eds.). Peer reviewed proceedings of Digital Landscape Architecture 2012 at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Berlin and Offenbach, Germany: Herbert Wichmann Verlag, 59-64.

Barth, B. (2020). Have Van, Will Garden. The Radical Landscape Architecture of Straub Thurmayr. Landscape Architecture Magazine, March/2020 Vol.110 No.3, p. 108 – 123.

Breedon, A., Mouritz L. (2023) Lofi landscapes: Straub Thurmayr. Landscape, May 2023 issue of Landscape Architecture Australia, Issue 178, p. 50 – 56 

Straub Turmayr Landscape Architects

Landezine International Landscape Award. Rooted in Clay_ WY Garden Winnipeg

Landscape Lecture: Anna Thurmayr and Dietmar Straub

UMtoday News, (2020, March 27). “A Sense of Anarchy in the Pantheon of Norm Breaker. The Radical Landscape Architecture of Straub Thurmayr”, an article refering to the LAM March 2020 issue presenting Prof. Dietmar Straub, Prof. Anna Thurmayr and their work.

UMtoday News, (2019, October 8). “Prestigious awards for purposeful purposelessness”, an article featuring the awards and the work of Prof. Dietmar Straub and Prof. Anna Thurmayr.

UMToday News (2017, September 28). “Expressive…lively…ephemeral…wild”, Straub Thurmayr announced as Landscape Designers of the Year 2017.

UMToday News (2017, January 24). Faculty and staff recognized for exceptional community service.

Zacharias, C. (2023). More than meets the eye. LOTS OF BULBS project celebrates U of M’s master of landscape architecture 50th anniversary. Winnipeg Free Press, May 20, 2023.