Image by Debra Mersky

You may have heard that we have an ad out for a landscape architect and we have been interviewing applicants.  There is lots of local available candidates with expertise  out there and we want to find someone who fits in with our firm to expand our talents!  This process has made it clear to us that a lot of people are in flux right now, and it has been enlightening to see what talented designers are doing when there is a lack of landscape architectural design work.  We are interested in hearing from anyone who has found a non-traditional  focus for their talent, particularly in ways that help our communities.

The restored plantations and manor houses exhibited colors that were vibrant but perfectly suited to this hot climate.  The combination was so pleasing to see and experience!  Our next slew of projects will benefit from this awareness of color and its impact on our daily lives.

Watching the Whales Play in the Channel

I was reminded again that visualization is a powerful tool in life and business planning. Using it can help to accomplish those crazy ideas which remain undone.   We just returned from a couple weeks on Maui.  When we were there last year, my son-in-law Stephen and I joked about stand up paddling in the channel between Maui and Lanai, and interacting with Whales.  Of course the idea was a little out there, literally and figuratively.  But, between that trip and this one, the idea percolated.  So when the time came, and we were paddling, and the whales were out there, we just did it.  I captured these shots sitting on my board!

The same type of visualization is the likely difference between a dreamer and a designer.  Our firm was founded on the idea of using design energy to create built form which connects to the landscape.  We love to see projects get built and visualization is one of our tools to make this happen!

Beautiful Clouds

Stand up paddleboarding has been particularly rewarding. Its hard to believe its only January with 50 degree weather and beautiful skies.

Penguins by Margaret Clapp

Our design office is brimming with art, collections of found objects, and the richness of life. Over the past 27 years, I have searched for and acquired a wonderful range of art which literally covers our firm’s walls. Sources for our art include travel, auctions, garage sales, antique stores, gifts from friends and family and in-house created works. Each piece adds design energy and richness to the workday experience, and connects to the greater world of design and life.

Sometimes people are overwhelmed when they walk into our design firm. Its rare to see walls literally covered with art outside of museums and galleries. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned my collections (future post). I have seen many smiles as clients and friends poke around and discover our finds.

As an informal collector, I have only one criteria when it comes to collecting art; does it make my heart leap? Art to me is first appreciated viscerally and later cerebrally. Its likely why I collect. There is that feeling that you get when you chance on a piece that makes you catch your breath…

Subtle color on the lake

Full  Disclosure:  I have become a stand up paddle board devotee.

I first tried it a year ago in Hawaii and loved it.  Bought a pair of Naish boards in May 2009 and have been out on the water almost every day since.

Winter time on Lake Washington can be brilliant or subdued.  Yesterday was a day of amazing color and richness, along with a little warmth too.

Pallatized systems survive controlled abuse...

We are advocates for green roof solutions, but we are also tempered with a practical side!  To make sure that we help our clients to choose  maintainable solutions, we have been testing  green roof systems on our roof terrace.  We are at the end of the first season of testing in the most harsh conditions; no water, full sun and exposure, no frost protection.

The four pallates are low profile solutions with no more than 3″ - 4″  of planting medium.  They were placed on the roof in spring 2009. We found the sunniest part of the roof terrace, including reflected heat from the adjacent walls. Other than placing them, we have not watered, fertilized or cared for them at all.  All four have made it through an unusually hot Seattle summer and a reasonably cold winter with freezing temperatures and snow.  This picture was taken this morning.

We have not taken measurements of percentage of cover, or rooting samples at this point.  We are in the process of evaluating which Sedums performed best, and will continue to watch them and share our gained knowlege.

Deschutes River near Bend

Our recent trip to Bend, Oregon underscored how important it is to connect people to the natural environment. Bend has done a fabulous job of developing their park and trail system to access the abundant natural resources which surround the City!  Hats off to the forward thinking City planners for a job well done.

1. Early decisions and choices have huge impacts later.

2. If you can find the talent, experience and vision, choose local talent.  Working with team members from a distance is hard and expensive.

3. Site conditions and the built form have a huge impact on sustainability goals.

4. Master plans are created by the planning process, but communities are built from the design that brings life to the plan.

5. Most Master Plans are poorly resolved and at a gross level.  It takes hard work on the ground to meet design, constructability, budget, sustainability, maintenance, and safety goals.

6. Design teams do not coalesce without a shared single vision, and the flexibility to adjust it to project realities.

7. Landscape architectural design will provide the outward look and feel that sells the community planning principles.

8. Large projects are, by nature, disruptive to natural site processes. Thoughtful design not only minimizes this, but provides a faster opportunity to repair the damage.

9. Every decision on a large project has huge impacts. Your design team must have the experience and judgment to make the right ones.

10. Continuity and shared knowledge will allow saving once the team coalesces.

Turn off that irrigation system

Nature has a way of reminding us that the best designs can break down at a human level. Rule One: Turn off the irrigation system before the cold weather.