PEOPLE
THE SECRET life of
WALTER BONE B
SANDS COTAI CENTRAL IN CHINA
orn in Starkville, Mississippi, Walter Bone moved around a lot as a child. His father’s job took the family to faraway places like Southern California and Mexico City, where Walter discovered a curiosity and passion for different cultures. So, once he received his degree in landscape architecture from Mississippi State in 1988, he was ready to see the world.
In 2007, Walter moved abroad, where he spent seven years in Hong Kong and in the nearby luxury gambling mecca of Macao. He managed the landscaping design and construction at Hong Kong Ocean Park—including a threestory shark tank exhibit, “The Galaxy Macao” featuring the world’s largest rooftop wave pool—and the Sands Cotai Central, considered one of the most luxurious casinos in the world.
Walter’s 30-year career has spanned two continents, where he’s designed everything from over-the-top theme parks and casinos to an entire city.
“When working on the landscape, the arrival experience is so important,” says Walter. “You want a design based on the five senses … the sounds of birds chirping, the feel of a gentle breeze, the smells and tastes, colors, textures and contrasts. All these things help make fantasy a reality. People get lost in the design and become part of it.”
But Walter says his strong foundation aided his progression to bigger, more intricate projects. “My first job was residential and small commercial, digging ditches, installing trees and installing lighting in Virginia Beach,” he recalls. “Spending six weeks out with the crews was a great learning experience. When doing much larger projects later, that experience was invaluable.”
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Walter says he developed a strong interest in landscape design paired with construction early on.
In 2013, Walter left Southeast Asia for an opportunity to work in the Middle East, where projects were booming in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman. He worked on a variety of theme parks and water parks for Dubai Parks and Resorts, including Legoland Dubai, Six Flags and Bollywood Parks, based on India’s film industry. He was also the lead landscape architect for The World of the Hunger Games inside the Lionsgate Zone at Motiongate Dubai.
“You draw something on paper and can visualize it, but on site, you become part of the process and can ensure the design integrity is maintained throughout the project,” he says.
In Dubai, he worked on Desert Rose, an ambitious $8 billion smart satellite city including homes, businesses, schools and parks. Walter was charged with designing
Pro Landscaper USA South January/February 2022
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