Tag: brian

Sprawled at the base of Old Rag Mountain; rolling hills, ancient rock outcroppings, freshwater trout streams, working farmland, and a network of nature corridors make the Etlan Property extremely complex.

The design team set out to conduct a site analysis in order to unpack its holistic potential.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

• 1725 – Established by German settlers, formerly Herbon community
• 1775 – Madison Men included in the formation of the Culpeper Minutemen during the Revolutionary War
• 1766 – Baptist preachers began preaching in the county
• 1792 – Madison County formed
• 1845 – Main crops were tobacco, hemp, flax, and wheat
• 1926 – Shenandoah National Park was established
• 2008 – Madison population 13,398

GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT:

• Old Rag dates back to 1 billion years ago
• Old Rag Mountain stands as a geological monument within the modern landscape
• Old Rag Mountain is formed by a granite called Old Rag Granite
• Old Rag Granite is a foundation to other stones along the Appalachian Trail—quartzite, limestone, basalt, and phyllite

While on site we documented the environmental and cultural conditions through photographs, sketches, and mapping. The cultural identity of the area is defined by agricultural production of livestock, wine production, and organic food harvesting. Agricultural production is made possible by the fertility of the surrounding landscape, which is composed of rich minerals and soils posited in the eastern valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are a draw for many looking to retreat from the intensity of city life.

We are excited to continue learning more about the intricate systems at work on this property, and deliver a design that not only meets the expectations of the owners but enhances the natural environment in a beautiful way.

Stay tuned as this project develops!

As landscape architects, we often find ourselves meeting people where they are in life. We engage with a client at a precise moment in time, for better or for worse, unknowing of the challenges or triumphs that have beset each of us. This past year, we found the art of listening to be more valuable than the gift of gab. We found consideration and empathy to be more important than speed or efficiency. We found that gratitude for our work and our relationships helped to make us better designers and better people.

Last year we lived through incredibly challenging times. Lives were upended. Relationships with extended family and friends were stressed. People were sick and scared. Yet in this moment of extreme uncertainty, we found the garden to be a tonic for fear and anxiety. We designed pools since local clubs were closed. We created terraces for gathering and pickleball courts for play. We planted colorful and textural gardens for exploration and enjoyment. The garden became one of the only places to gather safely, to talk, and to engage with the seasons, knowing that change always comes. Whether in the pool in July, around the firepit in September, or under the patio heaters with friends in December, we bonded in our gardens and shared our lives with those we love. This connection with nature and with each other has carried us through the darkest days of the coronavirus epidemic. Through it all, we realized, in both mundane and profound ways, that time is our most valued currency and that family and friends are our true treasure. And it was specifically the garden that helped us to reconnect and to persevere. It saved us, and it will save us again this spring when we step back outside to a new world full of health, opportunity, and healing.