treasure garden

time : 2021

place : atlanta, ga

process : landscape vernacular; found materials; movement; experiential sequence

completed for : private client

collaborators : masonry by Historic Stone & Construction, planting installation by Aspen Meadows, lighting by The Outdoor Lights, styling assist by Atelier Davis

photography : emily followill

awards : 2022 american society of landscape architects merit award in residential design

Originally developed in 1941, this wartime garden of yesteryear has evolved  into a collage of ancient Oak trees, mature Tulip Poplars, and gargantuan, multi-storied Camellias. This garden belonged to the original developer’s daughter. Before we began construction, we unearthed layers and layers of stone and vintage brick buried under eight decades of debris, a convenient place to stash leftover materials from the neighborhood’s development in pink marble, blue stone, cherokee, and crab orchard. For the entry courtyard, we conceptualized a large stone centerpiece to showcase the unearthed treasure and to serve as a carpet for which to organize the principal living space. The diversity in the stone- in color and in texture- drove the decision to mix stone types in the entry sequence to lighten the mood and prepare the eye for what was to come. Giant grey and buff crab orchard stepping stones were custom cut to follow a randomized linear pattern to achieve more movement in the walkway. Traversing the new brick entry courtyard leads to gracious, mazus covered steps that also serve as amphitheater- like seating for the existing lower brick terrace. These new terraced steps connect to a set of existing, curvilinear terraced steps that previously died haphazardly into ruinous planter walls. Now a completed thought, the once wacky curvilinear steps are infused with intention and though still a bit odd, find their place within the organization of elements.