Our work begins with close observation and unfolds through a deliberate, collaborative process that reveals a place’s character and potential.
We enter into new projects seeking relationships, not fixed outcomes. Design decisions are guided by landscape history, ecological processes, and the practical realities of how a site is used and managed. Rather than imposing a singular vision, our goal is continuity between past and present, intention and performance.
Schematic Planning
Each project begins with a close reading of the land. We study landform, soils, hydrology, vegetation, and patterns of human use alongside cultural, agricultural, and ecological histories that continue to shape the landscape today.
Early design work focuses on establishing a clear spatial framework that aligns program, access, ecology, and management. Constraints are treated not as limitations, but as collaborators that help guide decisions and clarify what a place can sustain.
This phase often includes feasibility studies and early coordination with clients, architects, consultants, and regulatory agencies. For institutional, conservation, or working-landscape projects, particular attention is given to long-term viability, stewardship goals, and operational realities.
Detailed Design
As a project develops, ideas are refined through drawings, planting studies, and material exploration. Design development and planting design proceed together, allowing spatial sequence, seasonal change, and performance to be considered as a unified whole. Construction documents are prepared with care, serving as clear tools for collaboration between designers, contractors, and fabricators.
Planting design is approached as a living system rather than a fixed composition. Early structure provides clarity and resilience, while open-ended planting strategies allow landscapes to adapt over time through growth, succession, and management. Emphasis is placed on plant relationships, durability, and ecological function, rather than short-term effect.
Project Administration
We remain closely involved on projects through bidding, contracting, and construction. Regular site observation allows design intent to be carried through with sensitivity to on-the-ground conditions and evolving circumstances. Throughout construction, we act as a steady advocate for our clients’ interests, helping guide decisions as design intent, cost, and constructability are reconciled in real time.
Our role often extends beyond installation, offering guidance on establishment and maintenance. Landscapes mature over a long horizon, and thoughtful stewardship is essential to their success. Ongoing involvement ensures that planted systems continue to perform and adapt with integrity.
The phases described above are not strictly linear. Observation continues during construction; planting strategies evolve with management; understanding deepens as a landscape grows. Our process is iterative and responsive, shaped by collaboration.
Through attentive practice, we aim to create landscapes that are resilient, legible, and deeply rooted in their surroundings—places that continue to unfold and thrive after the initial work is complete.
Contact
For new work inquiries or a copy of our
private portfolio, please reach out at: