landscape architecture

We've cried about structural engineers and spec'd overpriced retaining walls so it came time to be practical. A big thanks needs to go out to John Bodiford, Sr. Horticulturist of the SC Botanical Gardens for bursting the biggest Jeff and I had. Let's not beat around the bush, no pun intended, we were going to kill trees dead where they stand with the initial proposal for regrading the site. Two 18-24'' water oaks were on the chopping block, but I think we have saved the forest and tree huggers everywhere should celebrate. With the help of 500' of hot green string and a trunk full of 1x1 stakes, we have successfully taken over the site, created an interesting maze for onlooking children and found a way to preserve flat picnic areas, tree roots and amphitheater seating for the stage. After several hours and a few sore hammered thumbs on the site yesterday afternoon, Adam and I identified three terraced steps that can be reasonable created drawing from the hard lines of the stage and a few secondary entrances we are creating to the site. Following our discussion of threshold conditions, the landscaping will converse with both creek, picnickers, children at play and a performance volume of space yet to be defined. Rock faced gabion baskets abruptly meet the river to give a hard edge to the harsh line of modern nurturing and the feeder creek history. The threshold line becomes a conversation between what was and what is. The line bridging nature and community, demonstrating the unique opportunities both have to learn from each other. Linear axis pull the eye across the site and beg distraction to the greater, more subtle activity that moves through the grade, creek and shadows.

I think our newest design is the meeting of practicality and material possibility. Railroad ties will preserve an eco-footprint, lend to natural hues yet hold the soil for our purposes. With some strategic rebar anchoring, I believe we can retard soil movement and provide bench seating, observation levels, picnic platforms and even an audience for the stage. See a photo I found with some case studies of railroad terrace interventions. Our walls will no higher than 3', but the orientations is the same with a similar effect.