THE ART AND SCIENCE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTT'RE

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECIURE

May 9-30, 1993 -

Sponsored by:. The Stati Botaniga! Gar{en oJGorgia

Georgia Museum of ArtSchool of Environmental DesignThe Instirute of Community and

, : "fuea'D&elopment'

Stewards of the Earth: The Art and Science of Landscape Architecture

Preface

In the broadest sense of the term, landscape architecture is a professional design

discipline that deals with integrating people and the outdoor environment in a way that is

beneficiat to both the society and to the environment. Yet, to limit the profession to a

standard definition would be an injustice to what landscape architecture can actually

accomplish. Through the years, landscape architects have been involved in countless

numbers of projects associated with our outdooi environment. From the designing of small

private gardens to the planning and management of hundreds of square miles, the tandscape

architect is dedicated to serving our community by solving complex environmental

problems in an aesthetically pleasing fashion. These designs, to be truly successful, must be

profitable, stimulating, and enioyable from day to day.

Thanks to the organizational efforts of Professors Marguerite Koepke, Bill Mann,

and Forster Ndubisi of the Universiry of Georgia's School of Environmental Design, we

have the opportuniry to see how landscape architecture combines art and science to

integrate our community with the environment. The various submissions to the exhibition

present proposed works, works-in-progress, and completed works to demonstrate how

proiects begin and what is accomplished in the end. Most importantly, the exhibition

successfully communicates the important role that landscape architecture plays in our

society. The works clearly demonstrate that landscape architecture is beneficial to the

community, from preservation and restoration of residences and gardens to ptanning and

creatinB parks and recreational facilities.

In addition to the exhibition, educational programs will address various important

topics in landscape architecture. The informal lectures and walking tours will be held each

Sunday at 2200 p.m. and will begin in the lobby of the Visitor Center/Conservatory

Complex. Each program will last approximately two hours or less.

Sponsors for this exhibition are the Georgia Museum of Art, The State Botanical

Garden of Georgia, The Institute of Community and Area Development, and the University

of Georgia's School of dnvironmental Design. The offices of the Vice Presidents for

Research, Academic Affairs and Services provided generous financial suPPort. The Friends

of the Georgia Museum of Art and the Friends of the Garden sponsored the opening

reception. Important in the planning and implementation of the exhibition was the

participation of students in the museum studies program. Student coordinators are Melissa

Lit',vhiler and Erik Mittman, interns at the Georgia Museum of Art. David'Wells, intem at

the Georgia Museum of Art, designed the exhibition checklist, poster, and invitations. The

organizers gratgfully acknowledge the assistance of Mollie Henry, information specialist,

and Jayne Smith, manager, the Visitor Center at the State Botanical Garden; Villiam U.

Eiland, director, Georgia Museum of Art; Jim Stipemaas; Lanie lrssard; Bonnie Uter; and

Patricia Vright of the Georgia Museum of fut.

Melissa D. LitwhilerGeorgia Museum of Art, Intern

Spring 1993

May 9: Demonstration of Computer Applications in Landscape

Environmental Design, and Susan Crowe, lnstitute ofCommunity and Area Development.

May 15 The Exploration of P,rinciples Used in the Design oJthe Shade

Gardm and the Proposed International Garden in the Sute

, Botanical Garden of Georgia: Professors Marguerite Koepke

and Julie Myers, School of Environmental Design.

Lecture Topics

May 23' The Application of Ecological Principles in l-andscape

Arcbitecture Planning and. Design: Robinson Fisher,

Robinson Fisher Associates, Athens.

May 30 The Rob of Naliue Plants in Designing Sustainable

, Ittdscapes: Professor Darrel Morrison, Former Dean,

School of Environmental Design.

. This cross-section of landscape design illustrates the wide range of ways

that environmental architecture can influence the desigr, management, and

restorations of our physical environment.

The exhibition includes remarkably innovative work. Particular

attention should be given to the study of African-American garde-ns in the rural

South and the integration and restoration of natural plant communities at the UI6Corporate Office in Atlanta. Other striking examples inctude the National

Garden Design for'Washington, D.C., and the community desigr study forenh4ncing the downtown area of Banff, Alberta, Canada. All submissions

illustrate the importance of planning new development while respecting the

cultural and natural context that each development surrounds,

Seen together the proiect designs in the exhibition are visually exciting

and conceptually stimulating.

Juror's Statement

Jury Members:rHarV Baldwin, Baldwin and Associates; Atlantaelawrie Jordan, president, ERDAS Inc., AtlantarDarrel Morrison, professor of landscape architecture,

University of Georgia

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Checklist of the Exhibition

l. Marguerite Koepke

Purpose

The International Garden wasdesigred to display plantcommunities from around theworld, which are ecologicallycompatible with the Georgiapiedrnont. The International Gaidenihcreases public awareness of the

inter-relationships of the region in

its global context.

University of Georgia,Athens, GeorgiaThe lnternatiotul Garden atThe State

Botanical Gaden of Georgia,

Athms, Georgia

Small Scale Design: Park andRecreation Facilities19f35

Juror's Comment

The designer creatively exploits theviewing "rules of engagement" by

drawing the audience into the

design through time-honoredelements of form, color, textureand repetition.

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2. Roy Ashley and Associates, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

Rauina Hotel, Athntz, GeorgiaSmall Scale Design: Commercial Facilities1989

Purpose

The 40-acre Ravina complexconsists of four office towers and ahotel site that embraces a 10-acreheavily wooded area. A fifth officetower to be constructed in the area

of the forest was eliminated from '

the original master plan in order tosave the forest that enhanced rhenatural environment of RavinaCreek and the surrounding gardens.

Juror's Comment

At the heart of the notion ofstewardship of the environment is

the belief that we should conserve,protect, and enhance our naturalresources, All too frequently in theAtlanta metropolitan area, thisbelief is discarded in favqr of site-leveling and tree-clearing followedby artificial or ornamentalreplacements of vegetation. Yet,the Ravina project recognizes thegreatrasset that exists in the site'snatural forest.

3. Roy Ashley and Associates, Inc.

Purpose

The Greenway Trail Plan was

developed to provide a clear,

thorough documentation of the

network of open space corridorsand multi-use trails that have been

proposed for imptementation priorto the 7996 Olympics in Atlanta.The document has been prep.ared tointroduce the advantages that such a

network offers Atlanta.

Atlanta, GeorgiaCify of Athntu Greentaay TrailCorridor Plan, Atlanta, GeorgiaLarge Scale Desigrr:

RecreationaVTransportati on Plan

7992

Jurorls Comment

The projegt shows the value oflooking comprehensively at a

metropolitan region and identifu ing

connections that proYide an

alternative which can ultimatelyimprove the quality of life forpeople throughout that region.

4. Roy Ashley and Associates, Inc.

Purpose

The award-winning design for theNational Garden educates thepublic on the diversity of plantstypical to the piedmont region.Native plants, newly developed

hybrids, and the best of new andold garden plants will be displayedin distinct garden spaces and willdemonstrate new garden ideas. Onearea will display the many varietiesof our national flower, the rose.

Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Nationil Garden, Rose Garde4Wasbington, D.C.Design Team: Roy Ashley, MartinA. Harber, Jon E; Benson, MichaelD. Browning, and Scott ColemanSmall Scale Design: Park and

Recreation Facilitiest992

Juror's Comment

The proiect integrates historicalcontext, symbolism, traditionaldesign elements, and a uniquesetting into an award-winningproject.

5. Hughes, Good, O'Leary 6c Ryan, trnc.

Atlanta, Georgia

Moantain Park, ToutnsCounty, GeorgiaLarge Scale Design: Recreation Plans7992 l

Purpose

Mountain Park is conceived,as a

proiect tliat demonstrates thecompatibility of economicdevelopment with environmentalconcems. A site of 503 acres

located in the north Georgia'mountains, Mountain Pqricontains a wide variery of mountainecosystems from trout streams andflood plains to steep mountainousslopes. The history of the siteencompasses ovsr 61000 years ofcontinuogs habitation by NativeAmericans. Significantarchaeological finds are located in -

the region.

Jurorls C,ornment

This:project, rnore than any other inthe exhibition, clearly illustrates thebenefits and successful resultsobtained when analytical methodsare employed by the landscape :

architect in the design process.

5. 'Marguerite,Koepke and Ron Reid

Purpose

The courthouse was renovated toserve as the iudicial center for the

local district and as a communitygathering place. The plaza isavailable for various functionsincluding political rallies, music

festivals, farmers' market, fundraising campaigns, and lunch-hourdining.

Univerqiry of Georgia, Athens, .

Georgia, Ron Reid (architect)

Manhattan, Kansas

Riley County Courth ouse

Renouation and P hza D esign

Manhattan, Kansas

Small Scale Desigrr: Streets and

Public Spaces

1 985

Juror's Comment

This is an excellent example of the

landscape architect's ability tointegrate a beautiful and historicallysignificant structure into the urbanfabric through design prowess.

7. Richard 'Westmacott

Purpose

The NEA-funded rcsearch project,"Traditional Gardens and Yards ofAfrican-Americans in the RuralSouth,' describes patterns and

practices in the gardens and yards

of black families in three areas ofthe rural South. Until recently, the

vemacular garden had received

li6le attention from gardenh istorians and African-Americangardens none. The travelingexhibition seeks to bring the

findings of this proiect to a wideraudience, tohelp to assure the

preservation of a cultural heritage

and to deepen understanding and

appreciation of an art form that,for long-time rural African-Americans, is also a way of life.

Universiry of Georgia, Athens,GeorgiaAfi can - Amer ican G ar dens an dYards of the Rural SouthSouthem Region, U.S.

Communication: Presentation onLandscape History7992

Juror's C,omment

This proiect is a two-way lens thatallows us to look back at an elemeotof design which is almost totallyundocumented and also allows us tolook forward to preserving andbuilding upon that heritage.

8. Design'Workshop Inc.

Purpose

In Banff, Alberta, tourism and thepopularity of this mountain townhave been both positive and

negative factors in its development.Banff generates an enormousamount of tax revenue throughtourism, but very little of thismoney is retumed to the

community to help resolve thecongestion, parkiog, and publictransportation ills that are inherentto a striving resort town. Thepurpose of this plan is to takeadvantage of the opportunitiespresented by this unique,pedestr.ian-scale village, whereauto-management and pedestrianaccess are becoming increasinglyimportant issues.

Aspen, ColoradoB anff , Alb erta, D ountounEnhancement Concept Plan, A LongRange Strategy for SusainableTourism in the Town of BanffBanff, Alberta, Canada

Large Scale Desigr: Streets and

Public Spaces

7992

Juror's Comment

The proiect illustrates that thelandscape architect must be able todefine precisely a strategy forsolving a problem such as the

impact of tourism on a crowded"village."

9. David Nichols

Purpose

University of Georgia,Athens, Georgia(while associated with Barbour Cooperand Partners, Birmingham, Alabama)F o ur Recr eat ional Comp lex es

Birmingham, AlabamaLarge Scale Design:

Recreational Facilities7985-7990

Juror's Comment

This project reflectg one of the basic

requirements of a landscape

architect in the design process, the

need for compositional skills.

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The illustrative panel displays themaster plans of four differentrecreation complexes built in thegeneral vicinity of Birminghambetween 1985 and 1990. Thepurpose of the panel is to convey tothe general .public another facet ofthe wide range of services providedby landscape architects.

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10. EDAIT

Juror's Con.rnent

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Steuards of tbe furth 1993: AnAu aruiew' of ' ED AW Desi gtt P i o j e asVarious'Loc.atiorts: '' '. :

This series of vignettes on dgsignprojects reprcsents the'signatureo:of

one, of;the€o.uotryis fogernost ,

landscape architecturil finTrs; Wesee all phases of the design process

developed into resort, institutional,and land.plannirig applicatioos in a

haodsome displav. It shows theviCwer that,the. profesqion is not .

onlyrrriultifaceted but als-q.'.rindependent of scale.

L1,. Ashley, Hughes, Good and Associates

Purpose

Atlanta, GeorgiaUPS Corpo;,rate OfficerAtlanta, Ge.orgia

Corporate Facilities1,992

Juror't Cornment

To create a corporate envircrnment

that accommodates the physicalprogram requirements while itembraces the site's natural beauty,

A comprehensive plan that reflects

an efficienry of design consistentwith the corporate client's theme of"running a tight ship," yet it isexccuted in an envirormenqallysensitive way.