Martha Schwartz – Founding partnerof Martha Schwartz Partners

Women have long been transformative forces in global history. Leaders like Indira Gandhi in India, Golda Meir in Israel, and Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom demonstrate the profound impact women have made as visionaries and administrators. Their successes span across fields, highlighting women’s true capability and resilience. The field of Landscape Architecture is no exception; here too, exceptional women are guiding the industry forward. One such trailblazer is Martha Schwartz, whose leadership is helping shape the future of both the profession and society at large.

A Solutions-Driven Leader

Martha Schwartz serves as the founding partner of Martha Schwartz Partners (MSP), an internationally renowned design firm with a focus on enhancing, activating, and beautifying both natural and urban environments. MSP sits at the crossroads of landscape architecture, urban design, and climate-responsive planning. With nearly five decades of experience, MSP has delivered a wide range of projects—from public parks and brownfield reclamations to sweeping masterplans and art installations—collaborating closely with city officials, planners, and developers.

Schwartz, as a “solutions-oriented” leader, has always sought to address the evolving challenges within her field. Reflecting on MSP’s journey, she credits the firm’s reputation for design excellence to the creative minds she’s worked with, and although she no longer oversees daily operations, she remains committed to upholding the highest standards. Beyond her career, Schwartz is a mother of three, an advocate for the arts, and has inspired future generations through 30 years of teaching as Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Pursuing Excellence and Equality

Schwartz’s path began with fine arts at the University of Michigan, inspired by early Earthworks artists like Smithson and Christo. Seeking an outlet for her passion for landscape, she turned to a master’s in landscape architecture, since formal studies in land art did not exist. Soon after graduating from Harvard, Schwartz made waves with her first installation—the “Bagel Garden”—in front of her Boston home. This playful, provocative piece challenged the prevailing norms of the male-dominated, modernist landscape profession of the early 1980s.

Her unconventional approach stirred controversy, particularly because she was a woman challenging the status quo. But instead of discouraging her, the backlash only galvanized Schwartz and inspired younger practitioners to embrace creativity and diversity. By broadening the conceptual scope of the field, she not only enriched landscape architecture in the U.S. but also influenced the profession across the world. Her boldness and innovative spirit have since inspired countless women to pursue their ambitions unapologetically.

Commitment to Climate Action

In 2016, Schwartz’s attention turned sharply towards climate change after watching a sobering video on methane emissions in the Arctic by Prof. Peter Wadhams. Realizing the gravity of the climate crisis, she felt compelled to move beyond traditional practice and dedicate herself to climate activism. As a mother, she recognized a personal responsibility to contribute meaningful solutions for the next generation.

Driven by curiosity, Schwartz immersed herself in climate science, focusing especially on the vulnerabilities of the Global South. Her relentless search for answers led her to geoengineering—the deliberate large-scale intervention in Earth’s climate system—and particularly to Solar Geoengineering and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), methods scientists are researching to potentially slow global warming.

Leveraging her expertise and academic honors (including RIBA and RDI distinctions), Schwartz quickly became literate in these emerging fields. She even developed and taught a seminar, “A Geoengineering Toolkit for Designers,” at Harvard, equipping students with knowledge about Earth’s systems and potential climate solutions. While she acknowledges the risks of geoengineering, Schwartz emphasizes the importance of openly weighing these risks against the dangers of unchecked climate change—an urgent debate happening worldwide.

MAYDAY.EARTH: Advocating for Climate Equity

Schwartz’s drive to make an impact led her to found MAYDAY.EARTH, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for research into Stratospheric Aerosol Injection and ensuring the voices of the Global South are integral to the debate. The organization gathers landscape architects, scientists, and activists to raise awareness and educate people globally—regardless of background or geography—about climate change, geoengineering, and climate justice.

MAYDAY.EARTH emphasizes climate inequity as a pivotal social challenge and works to connect and empower individuals who support responsible research into solar geoengineering. Through online engagements, lectures, reading resources, and an accessible research library, Schwartz and her team foster informed discussions and support teachers and non-scientists seeking to further the cause of climate education.

Conclusion

Martha Schwartz stands as a paragon of innovation and resilience, championing both landscape architecture and global climate action. Her commitment to creative solutions, climate literacy, and equity continues to inspire women and men alike to reimagine what is possible—for their professions and for our planet.