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A Wave Organ Proposal with Peter Richards

randi — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:58:23 +0000

Third Nature Studio and graphic designer & landscape architect Leah Elamin are assisting Peter Richards with a wave organ project for the City of Marseille. As an artist in residence at San Francisco’s Exploratorium, Richards created a Wave Organ in the San Francisco Bay 1986.

The Marseille wave organ is inspired by the graceful form of a fish, with undulating, silvery, expanded metal mesh decking that is hidden and revealed by the changes in the tides. The organ pipes turn the form into a piece of habitable, sonic sculpture.

Marseille is undergoing extensive renovation along its central harbor or Vieux Port, including a new Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations just opposite the site of the organ at Fort Saint Jean.

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A Lush Bernal Heights Garden and Patio Redesign

randi — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:46:22 +0000

I have been doing a handful of quick projects for friends this summer, and the following drawings are for a residence in Bernal Heights, San Francisco. The client has a huge expanse of brick that I am proposing they cut back and re-edge to help define the central patio space. Their house is a charming former storefront with an amazing lookout tower, and I have suggested the introduce a strong single curve to play off of the mass of the architecture, and bring in mixed tropical & mediterranean style plantings to add some lushness. In addition, stepped landings, rectilinear stepping stones, and vertical lath screening and fencing will provide some visual richness, and a new modestly sized lawn will give their family an outdoor surface for play and relaxation.

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Masterplan for Puget Sound Waterfront Lot

randi — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:16:41 +0000

I am putting together a masterplan and design recommendations for my family’s property on Puget Sound, in Port Orchard, Washington. And as I work, I realize that there is no project that will come as close to my heart as this one.

My grandparents retired here from Seattle thirty years ago, and divided the property into four lots in order to give parcels to each of their three daughters. My grandmother lives here still, and my parents live in a house next door that our family designed and built in the early 90’s.

Both of my grandparents were master gardeners: my grandfather’s plant notebooks, garden plans and love of this place are what inspired me to pursue landscape architecture. My parents and aunts also love gardening and design, making it a joy to begin to imagine some subtle changes that will provide a framework for the love and care that will continue to be poured into the land.

We’ve commissioned a survey, and with the drawings I produce, we hope to preserve and enhance what my grandparents imagined for their children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren Freya, Felix, Sasha and Ovidia.

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Design Ideas for a San Francisco Entry Garden

randi — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:29:41 +0000

I have been doing a handful of small projects in between preparations for my class, bookkeeping, and marketing tasks (oh the joys of a small design shop!). These little packets of design recommendations are great for home owners with limited budgets who want some professional guidance, but can’t afford to divert too much of their overall budget into design.

Not sure where you fit in? Think about a grand total budget for your project. Design services shouldn’t exceed 10% of that amount. Now, good design takes time: it is never mindless, easy and fast (damn you, HGTV). But don’t despair. A package of well considered plant recommendations, quick perspective drawings and a simple plan can often be done in less than 20 hours.

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DIY Landscape Staging Handbook

randi — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:26:39 +0000

I’ve recently completed a quick handbook of staging recommendations for a Lower Pacific Heights Edwardian home in San Francisco. The owner is having her interior professionally staged by a staging company and recognized that a good deal of attention was needed for her exterior spaces as well.

The house is gorgeous, but was lost behind a hodge podge of dead and dying plants in mismatched planters and crumbling diagonal lattice. I proposed a series of quick fixes for each exterior space, including the entry garden, interior light wells and two small decks. As soon as it’s officially on the market, I’ll update my blog with listing info!

The proposed entry includes new paint on the garage door and garden gate, tidied and pruned back plantings, mexican pebble rock mulch and 3 large planters with sculptural plantings.

The existing entry.

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Landscape Renderings for a Shanghai Park

randi — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:15:02 +0000

I just completed some work for Meyer + Silberberg, assisting them with some renderings for a new waterfront park on the shores of Dianshan Lake, on the outskirts of Shanghai. As always, it was a pleasure working with that office; I’ve never known designers to be more thoughtful or throw their heart and soul into every last detail the way they do.

The park will be beautiful. Sinuous, braiding marshes, long, grand pedestrian and bicycle promenades and amazing waterfront amenities.

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Landscape Plans for Marin Midcentury Modern

randi — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:32:02 +0000

We are in the bid process for the Midcentury ranch landscape in San Rafael. The design was a fun collaboration with the client (a designer herself) and myself. She was inspired by the Portland residence that Third Nature Studio completed last year. There are a few similarities, but this garden will be distinctly Californian.

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Marin Mid Century Modern

randi — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:06:48 +0000

I’ve just started working on another great mid century modern ranch project. It’s located in San Rafael, just a few blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Marin Center. The backyard features an existing pool set at an angle, and I’m proposing adding a long clean concrete planter wall parallel to the pool edge, simplifying and solidifying the plant palette, and screening the mismatched fences along each property line.

For much of the year its a hot, sunny spot, so we’re cutting back on the amount of lawn, and adding a long shade awning to the back of the house over a new deck.

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Raised Bed Entry Courtyard

randi — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:38:47 +0000

Here is my latest study for the Puget Sound residence on Southworth Drive. I have been working on the entry to the house which is tucked out of sight of the entry drive and in need of some definition. My thinking was to add evergreen boxwood and herbs to the existing raised beds to create a more formal year round appearance. The clients can continue to plant and experiment with annuals, vegetables and other herbs within the evergreen frames.

The property has vast amounts of lawn, and while the Northwest climate can keep it lush without much supplemental watering, I have replaced the lawn between the raised beds with gravel. This courtyard is the sunniest spot on the property, and a little more hardscape will help define the space and create the feeling of a warm courtyard on cool days.

The house is inspired by Norwegian farmhouses, with custom railings and eve details. Unfortunately, the heavy gingerbread railings on the decks and balconies obscure the phenomenal Puget Sound views. I propose to replace the railing with a more modern metal post and wire mesh, keeping in harmony with a farmhouse aesthetic while opening up vistas to the water.

The proposed entry courtyard.

The existing entry courtyard.

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Happy New Year!

randi — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:11:30 +0000

Wishing you all a 2010 filled with creativity, productivity and happiness.

We are spending January wrapping up our construction drawings for Templeton Ridge Winery & Burbank Vineyards. It should be a beautiful project when all is complete. Construction on the landscape for the main house should begin this spring (pictured above), and design development for the new cellar and tasting room facility should follow shortly after.

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