2007 Archives

Wine Re-Defined exhibits the potential for creative reuse of materials from the California wine industry. The garden is intended to be in an urban setting, possibly on a lush rooftop terrace, in which a few people can relax with a glass of wine in the evening. All the furniture is hand-built from oak wine barrels and full of the fertile scents and colors of red wines. Stepping stones of recycled corks, lanterns from old wine bottles, and a water feature of tumbled glass all speak to the reuse of fine winemaking materials. The modern plant palette stands out among the rich colors of wine and emphasizes new possibilities rather than traditional themes.

Designed and constructed by:
UC Berkeley: Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
Sutter Wehmeier, Michael Herrin, Leslie McKenna, Mandy Leung, Caleb Clark, John Martin, and Ingrid Stromberg

This garden demonstrates how the beauty, variety, and versatility of California native plants can work in a small location. Meander along a redwood path beside the curving stone walls to a seating area around a glowing gabion table made of stainless steel, welded wire mesh and recycled glass. This is a special place where people can come together and feel that they are meeting in a forest glen. It is a contemporary rendition of a woodland garden, depicting natural elements unlike that in nature. The plants and materials are easily changed to suit local conditions while still creating a tranquil ambiance and a connection to the natural world outside.

Designed by:
Brian Swope
Tierra Seca Landscape Design
San Francisco, CA
(415) 947-0228
www.tierraseca.com

Constructed by:
Valle Gardening and Landscaping
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 771-3342
www.vallegardening.com

This multilevel garden takes an iconic human artifact, the picket fence, on a journey. Beginning its expression as a conventional vertical element, the fence changes form as it breeches the wall. Twisting onto its side, it becomes a trellis overhead; tilting toward the ground, it becomes a seat; leaning still further, it becomes a walkway inviting people into the space. On the upper level the fence divides the space into two planting zones: a manicured lawn and un-manicured meadow with tall field grasses. Below, the planting scheme is a hybrid of the heavily and barely-maintained represented by several species of Bay Area plants that work well in a garden but have evolved not to need regular watering or pesticide application. This garden challenges one to look at a familiar object in a new way and evoke questions about what it means to maintain a landscape.

Designed and constructed by:
SWA
Ellen Burke, Nancy Coulter, Zachary Davis, Ross Nadeau, Laura Phipps, Travis Theobald, and Justin Winters.
www.swagroup.com

Our intent is to create new ways for people to think about and see the landscape. Upon entering "A New Arcadia" the visitor passes through the portal of the 17th century. Traditional landscape views, reminiscent of those composed by Claude Lorrain, are brought to life by a combination of living plants and painted scenery. One soon discovers, however, that this pastoral ideal is magically multiplied and that the landscape extends infinitely into space! The visitor is drawn from one plane to the next, engaged by effects of light, shadow and texture, and leaves the garden transformed by the experience of strolling through a 21st century Arcadian vision.

Designed and constructed by:
studio b
Elizabeth Boults, Landscape Architect
Chip Sullivan, Optical Provocateur
Berkeley CA
(510) 841-1259