Logo for inwardout studio in thin, rounded lowercase letters. The dots over the i and at the end of studio are green. The background is light grey.
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About us

Hi, we’re Gabrielle Stannus and Ludovic Vilbert. A creative couple who combine our horticultural and architectural experience to design places that reconnect people with nature.

We are building and landscape designers based in northern Tasmania, helping our clients live more comfortably, sustainably and beautifully.

We believe in doing more with less: designing homes and gardens that use resources wisely, reduce waste, and give back to the environment. Who doesn’t want to save money and time while living more lightly on the planet?

Our work is guided by the principles of the circular economy. Designing out waste and pollution, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. We believe that one planet living is possible without sacrificing comfort.

We’re not afraid to think differently, get our hands dirty, and find creative solutions that work for both people and place.

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Gabrielle Stannus

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need 

– Cicero

For me, good garden design begins with curiosity. I want to know how plants behave, what they contribute, and how they make people feel. I learned the value of research and credible advice while completing my Master of Urban Horticulture at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus, and I’ve never stopped learning since.

I believe every plant should do more than ‘look pretty’ in a garden.  Plants should and can perform more than one function in a landscape, whilst also adding to its overall form, i.e. its ‘look and feel’. They might feed you, screen undesirable views, provide summer shade, shelter local wildlife, slow winds, clean stormwater or improve air quality, often at the same time.

Having maintained gardens from rooftop bars to leafy suburban homes and green walls, I know that truly low-maintenance landscapes come from thoughtful planning, not wishful thinking. Plants grow and change; that’s the beauty of them. My goal is to help you create a landscape that thrives with minimal effort and maximum reward.

Before launching into design, I worked for nearly a decade in community sustainability programs within local government, including household retrofit projects. I also coordinated the Tamar Sustainable Living Expo in Launceston and have taught sustainability and geography at the University of Tasmania, including Sustainable House and Landscape Design and Nature, People, Place.

When I’m not designing, you’ll usually find me in my own garden, hands in the soil, trying to outsmart the wallabies as I grow food for my family. I also love writing about all things horticultural as Editor of Hort Journal Australia.

My dream home would be filled with light, surrounded by a big productive garden where plants that are both edible and ornamental grow.  The house itself would be small, but not necessarily ‘tiny’, and I wouldn’t have to wear my mittens inside during winter!

Gabrielle’s qualifications

  • Diploma of Conservation & Land Management
  • Bachelor of Social Science (Environment) with Distinction
  • Master of Urban Horticulture

Ludovic Vilbert

I don’t divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one

– Luis Barragane

My interest in architecture has always been about how buildings can help people live better and feel more connected to nature. I’m a licensed Building Designer in Tasmania, originally trained as an architect in France, where I spent five years designing residential, educational, and social housing projects with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.

When I came to Australia in 2013, I swapped the drawing board for the tools, working on site as a builder’s labourer to understand how ideas become reality. That experience gave me a lasting respect for craftsmanship and detail.

Later, I rejoined the architectural sector as a Senior Associate in Melbourne, designing medium-density residential and commercial projects. Eventually, Tasmania called, and Inwardout Studio was born.

Many Tasmanian homes are colder than they should be. By simply getting the orientation, insulation, and materials right, you can transform comfort and performance. In France, strict thermal regulations make energy-efficient design second nature; I bring that same mindset to every project here.

My ideal home is built from locally milled timber and natural materials such as hempcrete. It sits lightly in the landscape, warm in winter and cool in summer. Outside, there is a firepit for long, slow evenings, a wood-fired oven for garden pizzas, and a view worth stopping for, preferably enjoyed from a hot tub on a cold Tasmanian day. That is the level of comfort, simplicity and connection to place I aim to deliver for clients through practical, low-impact design.

Ludovic’s qualifications

  • Diploma of Building Design
  • Bachelor of Architecture
  • Master of Architecture
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Our values

People gathered around a small fire at night in Tasmania.

Care and connection

We design places that reconnect people with nature, care for Country, and support a regenerative future. Our work is grounded in ecological intelligence, cultural respect, and everyday wellbeing.

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Comfort and efficiency

Our homes and landscapes are designed for comfort, health, and efficiency, using passive solar design, sustainable materials like hempcrete, and thoughtful site integration to reduce bills and improve liveability.

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Whole living

Unlike conventional firms, we do not separate architecture from landscape; we design both together, creating seamless transitions between indoors and outdoors, rooted in place and purpose.

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Feel good

Every project is an invitation to live more slowly, more beautifully, and more in tune with the rhythms of the land. We shape spaces that feel right and do right by future generations.

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Give back

We create buildings and gardens that do not just reduce impact, they regenerate. From carbon-sequestering hempcrete walls to biodiverse planting strategies, our work actively improves the environment.

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Local wisdom

Based in Lutruwita/Tasmania, we understand the local climate, terrain, and culture. Our designs respond to community needs, bushfire resilience, and a changing environment.

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Live your way

We help people create homes and outdoor spaces that support their lifestyle – spaces for growing food, connecting with nature, hosting family and friends, and retreating from the noise of everyday life.

Proud members of

We are proud members of the following industry organisations that keep us connected to best practice in building and landscape design, horticulture and sustainable living:

  • Building Designers’ Association of Australia (BDAA)
  • Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH)
  • Horticultural Media Association of Australia
  • Renew
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Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA)

The Building Designers Association of Australia is a national professional association representing building designers across Australia. It supports the profession through advocacy, professional recognition, education, continuing professional development, and industry connection, helping strengthen standards and best practice in building design.

For Inwardout Studio, this membership helps us stay connected to current standards, training, and professional networks as regulations and construction practices evolve. It supports our commitment to delivering thoughtful, compliant, climate-responsive design, and to continuing to learn and improve in the way we work

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Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH)

The Australian Institute of Horticulture is Australia’s professional body for horticulturists. It promotes professional standards, sustainable practice, and ongoing development for people working across the horticulture sector and provides a shared platform for leadership and advocacy within the profession.

This aligns closely with how we approach planting and landscape design: as professional practice that should perform over time. It supports our focus on evidence-informed plant selection, biodiversity, and resilient landscapes that contribute to comfort, wellbeing, and thriving outdoor spaces.

HMA logo with a green leaf and the text Horticultural Media Association Australia Inc and MEMBER in white on a green rectangle.

Horticultural Media Association Australia

The Horticultural Media Association of Australia supports horticultural communicators and connects people who create and share horticultural content across print, digital and other media formats. It encourages professional connection and industry engagement, strengthening the way horticultural knowledge is shared with the wider community.

We value clear, accurate communication because it helps clients make confident decisions. This membership supports our commitment to sharing practical guidance about plants, gardens, and sustainable landscapes, and to staying connected with the people and ideas shaping horticulture in Australia.

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Renew

Renew is a national not-for-profit organisation focused on sustainable living in homes and communities. It provides independent advice and education on practical solutions that help households improve home performance and reduce environmental impact. It also advocates strongly for systemic change, supporting better policies and standards that make sustainable living more achievable and accessible.

This reflects our focus on practical sustainability, grounded in real-world outcomes rather than trends. We value Renew’s clear, evidence-based guidance, and we also support its advocacy for the broader shifts needed to create healthier, lower-impact homes and communities.