Welcome
Greetings!
Thanks for visiting our website - and for giving our blog a read. Arcadia Studio's designers will post notes here on a broad range of landscaping topics - be it sustainable design, plant palettes, a good book or article, site work, LEED certification - just about anything we come across that incites us to write up a post.
We launched this blog recently, so its not yet brimming with content, but we're keen on growing it into a resource where those interested in landscape design go to see what's new in the field, what interesting things we're coming across, and what issues we're grappling with in the pursuit of landscape design.
If you have any questions about what you read here - or about Arcadia Studio in general - we'd be more than happy to chat with you. Just give us a call or drop us an e-mail
Succulent Gardens Featured in Montecito Magazine
A residential project Derrik Eichelberger has been involved in with for over a decade is one of two properties featured in an article by Carol Bornstein in the latest issue of Montecito Magazine. The article focuses on the use of succulent materials in garden design for their aesthetic beauty, adaptablity to the Santa Barbara region, and their benefits as fire-safe planting.
Puck’s essay in Pacific Horticulture Magazine
Our very own Puck Erickson contributed an informative, heartfelt, and inspiring essay to the summer edition of Pacific Horticulture, which one can order from the publication's website by clicking here.
Puck tells the tale of designing a sustainable - and sustaining - garden in the Santa Barbara foothills. This particular garden survived two devastating local wild fires in the past several years. Puck unpacks this headstrong landscape's narrative to demonstrate her belief in the power of the garden to serve as, "a mirror of our own endurance," she writes. "The garden is an expression of the vitality of organic systems whose diversity and synergy allow for continued rebirth...little by little."
The magazine also published a slide show companion to the piece on its website - one little mouse click away.
It's a great publication, we're proud to be a part of this issue, and if you're interested in West Coast gardening, it's a must subscribe.
Join Us For Earth Day
We'll have a significant presence this year at the Earth Day festival in Alameda Park the weekend of April 17 and 18. If you've never been to the annual Earth Day festival in Santa Barbara, it's a great excuse to get out for some festival food, music, and various displays featuring sustainable practices, good, and services. It's a fun time, and we'd love to see you at our booth. We'll be set up by the sustainable home showcase. Come and say hi!
Here's some more detailed info about the festival.
Arcadia featured in Dining and Destinations Mag
The Spring/Summer edition of Dining and Destinations Magazine contains a glowing article featuring the residential work of one of Arcadia's founding Principals, Derrik Eichelberger. You can see the full article at SBDIGS.COM. The print edition of Dining and Destination is widely available around town. It's a great guide to local art, fashion, food, and the like. The magazine's website can be found here.
Arcadia raising money for Haiti relief
In response to the ongoing crisis in earthquake ravaged Haiti, Arcadia Studio is offering a unique way to contribute to the relief effort: two hours of consultation with one of our landscape architects in exchange for a Haiti-designated, $250 or greater donation to Direct Relief International, a leading aid organization based right here in Santa Barbara.
This offer will run through February 28th.
Please consider this method of helping DRI deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Haiti.
For details, contact Justin Dullum at:
805 962 9055
If you’re interested in simply donating to DRI, click here.
If you would like to learn more about the value Arcadia Studio can add to your donation, please peruse our portfolio.
We've been circulating a flier with this info. A PDF of it can be viewed and downloaded from here.
Thank you for your consideration - and please pass it on.
Mesa Architects challenge neighborhood problems through collaborative thinking
The Mesa Architects, a volunteer community group of Mesa residents who also happen to be architects and urban designers, have been grappling with ways to strengthen their community by promoting improved transportation systems, better access to recreational opportunities, creation of new community centers, and increased awareness of sustainable design. Arcadia Studio's Derrik Eichelberger, the lone landscape architect in the group, joined with Dennis Thompson, David Van Hoy, Jeff King, Jim Bell, John Kelley, Tom Morrison and Chris Cotrell last December, and has been active working on streetscape improvements to Cliff Drive designed to slow traffic and make it safer and more pleasant for cars, bikes and pedestrians.
An interactive web-site highlighting the work of the Mesa Architects can be accessed at MesaVillage.org. In addition, many of the ideas the group has been working on have been presented to great acclaim at several public workshops, and is now being added to the upcoming comprehensive planning document being prepared by the City of Santa Barbara as a model of development for the Mesa.
The Stunning Beauty of Padaro Lane
I might be biased, but I believe there are few places as beautiful as Santa Barbara. And within Santa Barbara, there are few places as stunning as Padaro Lane.
No wonder, then, that the fortunate flock there like seagulls to an abandoned picnic. Driving along Padaro Lane is like flipping through the pages of an architecture magazine. In the distance, Rincon Point drapes over the misty horizon. Dolphins cavort in the gentle surf. No kidding.
Two exciting new projects on Padaro Lane have been taking shape over the last two years which highlight Arcadia Studio’s contemporary side.
3453 Padaro Lane, designed by Derrik Eichelberger, was recently completed. It is infused with a light-hearted sense of fun that was the direct result of the owner’s desire to design a garden that was ‘amusing’. Photos of the front garden, fountain, and some of the rear garden are posted here.
Just down the road, a contemporary jewel is nearing completion. Designed by husband and wife team Laurie Romano and Keith Rivera, of Arcadia Studio and B3 Architecture respectively, the house and garden combine minimalist design and lavish living.
The thoroughly contemporary project avoids seeming stark or cold with well-chosen materials – ipe, bamboo, plaster, limestone, and glass. The structure's center of gravity reaches overhead - the result of an interesting second story overhang designed as a separate wing. Visitors will enjoy a spectacular glass fountain and lush courtyard as they enter.
The private oceanfront outdoor living space is complete with an outdoor kitchen, in-ground spa, vanishing edge water feature, and sunken firepit. Construction photos are posted here.
The Landscape Architects at Arcadia Studio dream of places like Padaro Lane to showcase our work. We have been fortunate to attract clients that share our appreciation for contemporary design and excellent craftsmanship.
Buellton Botanic Garden becoming a reality
The clouds embraced Buellton's rolling hills on Saturday as nature-lovers assembled near Riverview Park to celebrate breaking ground at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden. For the past four years, a devoted group of Valley locals has been rallying support and securing funding for the project. The mood was giddy as the crowd socialized and surveyed the 2 acre site, imagining what it will look like when it's completed.
The idea of creating a Botanic Garden dedicated to the riparian ecosystems of the Santa Ynez Valley started when River View Park was still a concept on Arcadia Studio's drawing boards. The site was home to the willow flycatcher, a small songbird that has been on the endangered species list since 1995. Land had to be set aside adjacent to the park to provide habitat for the displaced bird.
That's when Puck Erickson Lohnas, one of the founders of Arcadia Studio and a longtime Valley resident, saw an opportunity to educate the public and increase awareness of her bioregion's native habitat. A committee was formed who then cajoled friends and family into donating time and money, and created a concept that garnered widespread support. A local environmental group, WEWATCH, help provide initial support to ensure the project could move ahead.
The team took on a number of challenges along the way, including initial skepticism from the City Council. In the end, however, Buellton donated the land for the garden, as well as seed money, and individual donors bought trees, which will be planted in time for Arbor Day.
"It hasn't been an easy path." said Mayor Hicks, as he sunk his golden shovel into the earth.
The Botanic Garden needs volunteers to help plant trees this spring, and of course, always needs donations. For more information contact Kyle Abello Buellton Recreation Coordinator.
Meg West Published In ASLA Journal
The January '09 edition of the American Society of Landscape Architects' monthly journal features a letter written by Arcadia Studio's Meg West. Meg, a devoted conservationist, Yogini, and all around swell gal offers her fellow landscape architects a ray of optimism amidst economic crisis. The journal, Landscape Architecture, does not post letters on its website, but you can read Meg's below.
If you were asleep for the past month, you might have missed the end of credit as we know it and the historic election of Barack Obama. Wage freezes, layoffs, and difficulty getting projects will likely continue. Is there a silver lining to all this scary news?
Al Gore, Honorary ASLA, wrote in the New York Times recently, "Here is the good news: the bold steps that are needed to solve the climate crisis are exactly the same steps that ought to be taken in order to solve the economic crisis and the energy security crisis."
Or, to put it another way:
"When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters: one represents danger (w_i) and the other represents opportunity (j_)." - John F. Kennedy, 12 April 1959.
What are the opportunities that Landscape Architects should be aware of?
1. Educate yourself about sustainable practices and market them to your clients
Here is a real opportunity for Landscape Architects to lead clients and design teams toward more environmentally friendly practices. Many of us have been passionate about this topic for years, and the economic crisis has provided us with an opportunity to market green in a new way. Municipal and commercial clients will be more receptive then ever to ideas that combine saving money with saving the environment. Residential clients will be amenable to removing lawns and planting native plants if your concept is beautifully designed and presented. Educate yourself about the options and commit to a real marketing effort for sustainability. Have the courage to use your knowledge and design skills to show how things can be done differently!
2. Lead by example
Instead of spending time worrying about the economy, do something that saves you money and decreases your resource consumption. Can you take the bus or ride your bike to work? Set a goal for a paperless office and start filing things electronically? Make a change to your house to become more energy efficient? Are you always too busy to spend time on projects of this nature? You might have a little more time on your hands these days - use it to change something in your lifestyle that has an impact, no matter how small.
3. Landscape Architects as leaders and visionaries
As population growth continues, and humans continue to impact more and more of the planet, we require visionary designers to create a new paradigm. Razing land to build strip malls and constructing endless jam-packed highways is clearly a thing of the past. Our future landscape can be as efficient, sustainable, and beautiful as our most inspired designs. Dare I say it……"Yes, we can!"