Part of a subdivision designed by the renowned American landscape architect John Olmsted and closely connected to the Uplands Park, where the Garry Oak ecosystem is dominant.. This design brings the two together.
This project is in the construction phase
Architecture by: Josh Harvey Design
Engineering by: Aspect Engineers
Construction by: MDRN Built
The project site is situated in a highly valuable ecological, cultural and historical landscape. This parcel on Beach Drive is part of The Uplands and close to Uplands Park where the natural, original landscape is still strongly represented and the Garry Oak system creates a strong foundation for a biodiverse and healthy ecosystem. Besides that, the property is part of a subdivision designed by the renowned American Landscape Architect John Olmsted and is among the first large scale developments to break away from the rigid rectangular street grid. The result is a subdivision that is integrated in the landscape and plays with an ever changing narrative of vista’s on the beautiful vast coastal landscape. The continuing curving roads and site walks, meadows and lawns beside the road, and the composition of old Oaks and other valuable trees, create a coherent experience that blends the natural and the cultivated together.
These two ingredients; the original Garry Oak ecosystem and the valuable historical development of Olmsted’s design are the main concepts behind the design proposal.
We want to connect the parcel to the bigger Garry Oak ecosystem and the identity of the Uplands Park resulting in a conscious and subconscious connection to the bigger landscape and the strengthening of the ecosystem as a whole. In our design proposal we want to approach the parcel as a grassland meadow with a base of native grasses, perennials and bulbs like Camassias and wild onions. In the open meadow a selection of single trunk and multi trunk Garry Oaks will be planted. The property edges are built up by soft shaped native evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees so the property visually blends into the green surroundings. For the hardscaping we want to use materials that work with the underlaying geology and use open pavement as much as possible so water can seep into the underground undisturbed and not drain into the existing municipal sewer system.
In respect to The Uplands’ suburban design our landscape will underscore and restore both the natural character of the site, with open spaces and interconnected tree canopies, and the essential elements of Olmsted’s original vision. We want to keep the design humble and sober and connect the front yard to the park like structure again. By taking away the existing hedges and creating a meadow with a composition of Garry Oaks we restore the original intended identity, connecting the parcel to the coherent visual story of Uplands. The meadow is divided in two sections: a more natural zone closer to the house which is mowed twice a year and a zone that is frequently mowed and connects seamlessly to the lawn boulevard along Beach Drive.
The result is a new dwelling that sits gently, as if a guest, in a landscape connected to The Uplands suburban vision and the underlaying natural landscape.
Connecting the property to the bigger
Gary Oak ecosystem and the identity of the
Uplands Park resulting in a conscious and subconscious
connection to the bigger landscape and the strengthening of the ecosystem as a
whole.
Property is part of Olmsted’s Uplands and the
design should help underscore and restore the
open character, the continuing tree canopies
and be part of the urban development as a
whole.
Connecting the property entrance to Beach Drive so the
property visually will stay connected to the
residential park.
Functional and aesthetic elements are placed floating in the field as strong and minimal gestures in contrast to the wild underlying carpet.
