Residential Landscape DesignPhilosophy ∙ Process ∙ Principle ∙ Place

History of Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.

Mic Gilkey and UF Professor Harrick Smith, 1999

Michael Gilkey and UF Professor Harrick Smith, 2009

What is a Landscape Architect?

Classic Definition:

Landscape Architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments

Scope of Practice: Academic Campuses Conservation Corporate and Commercial Gardens and Arboreta Historic Preservation and Restoration Hospitality and Resorts Institutional Interior Landscapes Land Planning Landscape Art and Earth Sculpture Monuments Parks and Recreation Reclamation Residential Security Design Streetscapes and Public Spaces Therapeutic Gardens Transportation Corridors and Facilities Urban Design Water Resources

Landscape Architecture: Creating Emotion

Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C.Maya Lin, Landscape Architect

Concept: To create an opening or a wound in the earth to symbolize the gravity of the loss of the soldiers.

Landscape Architecture: Creating Emotion

Roberto Burle Marx, Landscape Architect“The Picasso of Landscape Architecture”

Concepts: Skeptical aesthetic developed from modernism with a distinctly Brazilian style, influenced by cubism and mindful of the dynamic of walking through a garden. The sensation of mobility is an important element of experiencing his landscapes. He used native tropical vegetation as a structural element of design, ruptured symmetrical patterns in open spaces, colorful treatment of pavements, and free forms in water features.

Landscape Architecture: Creating Emotion

Central Park, New YorkFrederick Law Olmsted, Landscape Architect“The Father of Landscape Architecture”

Concept: Central Park embodies Olmsted's social consciousness and commitment to egalitarian ideals. Olmsted believed that the common green space must always be equally accessible to all citizens. This principle is now fundamental to the idea of a public park, but was not assumed as necessary then.

Landscape Architecture: Creating Emotion

NCNB Park, TampaDan Kiley, Landscape Architect

Concept: Kiley extended the tower's fenestration pattern onto the site. The geometry of the tower and banking hall inspired an intricate pattern of grass and paving stones and water features. As counterpoint to the site's geometry, Kiley created an understory of hundreds of randomly placed crape myrtle trees. The trees eventually formed a dense canopy that blocked sunlight from reaching the grass between pavers. The canopy obscured views of the tower, disconnecting the building's strong design relationship to the park. The design failed.

Design Process: Site Analysis

Design Process: Site AnalysisFunctional ConsiderationsWho is the USER of the space?What is the FUNCTION of the space?

What are the OPPORTUNITIES and CONSTRAINTS of the space?

Design Process: Site AnalysisEcological ConsiderationsPreservation of Existing Desired Native or Indigenous Vegetation and Removal of Invasive Exotics

Preservation or Introduction of Habitats for Native Wildlife

Horticultural Considerations to Sun, Salt, Soil, Wind

From Analysis to Concept: Principles of Design

“'Think simple' as my old master used to say - meaning reduce the whole of its parts into the simplest terms, getting back to

first principles.” –Frank Lloyd Wright

Design Principles: Scale & Volume

Large Scale (Relationship to Site) Small Scale (Human Experience)

Design Principle: Scale (Before)

Plants out of scale with house; out of scale with each other

No hierarchy

Design Principles: Balance & Symmetry

Symmetrical Balance Asymmetrical Balance

Design Principle: Balance (Before)

Lack of hierarchy leads to lack of balance; feels compressed against façade of home

Design Principles: Axis, Focus, Viewshed

Axis Focus Viewshed

Design Principle: Focus (Before)

Lack of focus; no view framing toward entry experience, lack of welcome

Design Principles: Texture & Color

Design Principle: Texture (Before)

Variety in textures and colors lacks delineation, looks jumbled, unintentional, haphazard

Design Principles: Integration with Architecture

Design Principle: Integration with Architecture (Before)

Vehicular entry appears unwelcoming Underutilized outdoor / backyard rooms No relationship to lines / functions of home

From Principles to Design: The Landscape Concept

From Design to Specification: Material Selection (Considerations)

Meet Client’s aesthetic and functional preferences

Meet requirements of design solutions outlined in Concept Plan

Florida-Friendly and/or Native Palette (includes ability to appreciate dormancy)

Waterwise Irrigation CompatibilitySustainable Hardscape / Aggregate Materials

Sustainable Maintenance Practices Including Integrated Pest Management

From Specification to Selection: Material Selection

From Selection to Document: The Landscape Plan

Design Build: Scale (After)

Scale: Before

Design Build: Balance (After)

Balance: Before

Design Build: Focus (After)

Focus: Before

Design Build: Texture (After)

Texture: Before

Design Build: Integration with Architecture (After)

Integration: Before

Design Build: Details

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.Partial Portfolio

Concept Plans

Casa del Carnevale

Casa del Carnevale

Old Spanish Garden Revival

Old Spanish Garden Revival

Casey Key Sunset Garden

The Casey Key Pagoda Garden

The Casey Key Pagoda Garden

The Casey Key Pagoda Garden

The Casey Key Pagoda Garden

The Casey Key Pagoda Garden

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