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
Introducing Leaf’s Fire Smart Landscape Audit
Leaf Landscape is offering Fire Smart Landscape Audits to help clients understand and implement fire-wise practices.
We’ll spend an hour or more (depending on the size of the property) walking the site, and then write up a list of specific recommendations which can be used to establish and maintain defensible space.
The cost of the Fire Smart Audit is as follows:
upto ⅔ acre: $250
⅔ to 1 acre: $350
Over 1 acre: $450
The fire smart audit builds upon the sustainability audits we have been doing for a year, which have been proven decrease water use in the landscape. Combine a fire-smart and sustainability audit to for an overall picture of the long-term approach to site issues.
Cost of a combination fire-smart and sustainability audit:
upto ⅔ acre: $375
⅔ to 1 acre: $525
Over 1 acre: $675
It's never too late to upgrade the sustainability of your landscape, and it's never too early to implement fire-wise landscape design. For more information on both service, please call us at 805 962 9055, or email Meg West at meg@arcadiastudio.com
Arcadia’s “Inspired Idea” featured in September issue of Sunset
Arcadia Studio's very own Derrik Eichelberger conceived the serene circular patio featured in the issue. Designed as a memorial to honor a sacred spot in the garden, Derrik worked with the owners, Tom Morrison and Nancy Brock to create a spot that celebrated the spirit of Nancy's mom, and provided a restful perch to take in the beauty of the Santa Barbara Channel. The planting design of native and coastally adapted plants, along with Tom's handy-work on the deck, created a one of a kind setting.
Arcadia Project Featured In LA Times
The July 16 Home section of the LA Times ran a nice piece on a run down Carpinteria beach house Arcadia Principal Derrik Eichelberger helped resuscitate.
The full article, along with photographs, can be read here.
Half off LEAF Audits In Celebration Of Earth Day!
In honor of Earth Day we are offering half price LEAF Landscape Audits for the month of April. This written assessment is conducted on site and will provide you with options for improving the efficiency, sustainability, and overall design of your garden. The Audit identifies ways to decrease water use in the landscape, which can save you significant money each month on water bills.
LEAF services include:
• Audit of existing landscapes with recommendations for improvements
• High-quality landscape and irrigation design services offering streamlined state-of-the-art solutions
• Coordinated installation with local contractors committed to quality craftsmanship and dependable service
• On-going maintenance recommendations to assure maximum benefits from improvements
Call Meg West at 805.962.9055 x 28 for a half price landscape audit.
1/3 acre or less: Normally $150, now $75
1/3 – 2/3 acre: Normally $250, now $125
2/3 – 1 acre : Normally $350, now $175
1 acre or more: Normally $450, now $225
On April 16 and 17, in Alameda Park, Santa Barbara’s overwhelmingly informative Earth Day Festival honors our community’s environmental ethic. Arcadia Studio is joining the jubilee to promote our new division, LEAF, a group dedicated to helping clients transform thirsty, maintenance-intensive gardens into efficient and beautiful ones. LEAF landscape will be sharing a booth with Florasource, Ltd., a vendor specializing in green roof materials and UC Verde Buffalograss, a drought-tolerant lawn alternative. Our booth will be located on the northeast side of Santa Barbara Street, close to Sola St., in the Green Building and Solar Section, near the Harvest to Home Section. Admittance is free. Come say hello!
Rancho Latigo featured in Santa Barbara Magazine
We're honored to see Rancho Latigo, a Santa Ynez project with a landscape designed by Arcadia Studio, featured in the February/March Home & Garden issue of Santa Barbara Magazine. SB Mag doesn't publish entire articles for free on its website, but they put out a teaser. Since the tease is light on images of the landscape, I'm posting a few from our portfolio. It's a remarkable piece of land - 5,000 acres of rolling hills and ranch land with stunning panoramic views. Puck Erickson led Arcadia's design effort.
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.
Lawn replacement cuts monthly bills
Landscaping accounts for the majority of water use in California households. Irrigating your lawn probabally uses more water than bathing and dishwashing combined. Replacing lawn with a drought-tolerant alternative such as UC Verde Buffalograss or a bunchgrass meadow will cut your monthly bills significantly.
For example, a 1/3 acre yard in Santa Barbara County typically spends between $800 and $1500 per year for irrigation, potentially more in places where water is particularly expensive, like Solvang and Montecito. A LEAF landscape design can help you save 50% to 75%. on your water bill, and cut maintenance requirements in half. Our designs reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact by eliminating the need for fossil-fueled mowing and hedging. Add a laundry-to-landscape greywater system to irrigate fruit trees, and you’ll be paying less for water overall, and producing fruit from an orchard that’s irrigated entirely with recycled water.
For large properties, the savings can be enormous. A one acre site composed of lawn and high water use plants will demand more than $20,000 per year for water and maintenance. LEAF designs can cut costs by more than half, and provide a return on investment after two years.
Save money on landscaping with rebates
Residents or businesses in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, or Lompoc are able to participate in the Smart Landscape Rebate Program and receive money from their water provider to decrease water use in the landscape. Participants will get a check in the mail for up to $1000 after the retrofits are completed, and save even more in the long run.
This program aims to help homeowners and businesses improve irrigation efficiency, remove lawns, replace high-water use plants, upgrade old irrigation controllers, and install rain sensors. Rebates will cover half the cost of plants, irrigation parts, or greywater systems.
LEAF landscape, a vision of Arcadia Studio, is now offering Landscape Audit Services. The audit, which takes about an hour, will provide you with concrete strategies to make your garden more sustainable. We’ll look closely at your existing plants, irrigation, and maintenance practices, make recommendations to decrease water use and maintenance requirements, and suggest ways to improve your garden's overall design. The cost of the Audit is between $150 and $350, depending on the size of the property. If you are spending too much money on water and maintenance, want to take advantage of the Smart Landscape Rebate Program, or are simply looking for ideas about how to live more sustainably, then the Landscape Audit will get you on the right track.
Form more information on the Smart Landscape Rebate program, go to sbwater.org
For more information on Landscape Audits, email Meg at Arcadia Studio.
Padaro project wins top award
A project Arcadia Studio has had the pleasure of being integral in bringing to fruition received the top honor in the custom built homes category at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference annual Golden Nugget ceremony. (We featured the project on our blog last year when it was gathering attention locally.) Here's the judge's statement:
""Wow… this 7,800 sq. ft. home was designed to be sustainable and multi-generational structure that features separate enclaves. The interior courtyard is a modern retreat from wind and exterior sound and is the core of the dwelling. Utilizing recycled surfaces and reclaimed materials the home becomes a responsible dwelling with energy performance exceeding Title 24 by 50%. Careful attention was paid to the development of personal enclaves for extended family and guests alike."
Started 50 years ago, the PCBC is a community of builders and manufacturers, building scientists and architects, environmental engineers and landscape companies, working together to advance the art and science of community building.
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.
Thanks to all for a successful Earth Day.
A great time was had by all at the weekend Earth Day celebration (April 17-18). It seems everyone in Santa Barbara stopped by the park at one point or another. But if you missed it, here are a few short videos from the Green Homes Pavilion Arcadia Studio helped develop.
A quick overview of the native plants on display:
Our very own Bob Cunningham chatting up some friends, and a look at a sampling of permeable hardscapes:
And live music to boot...
Thanks to all who came out to see us, and if you have any questions about what you saw in the display, please look us up!
Arcadia Studio would also like to thank the Community Environmental Council, and all the designers, installers, and vendors that volunteered their time and money to make the Green Home Pavilion a success. We spoke with hundreds of people about how to make their garden more sustainable, and look forward to continuing to be a resource for the community.
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.
Derrik appointed to Montecito Board of Architectural Review
A press release:
Derrik Eichelberger, a founding principal of Arcadia Studio, a leading Central Coast landscape architectural firm based in Santa Barbara, was appointed to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review in March.
Mr. Eichelberger has himself guided numerous residential projects – both large and small – through the MBAR process. He brings to this process an astute understanding of Montecito’s historical significance, geography, and culture.
Having previously served on the City of Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review (1998 - 2006), and the Goleta Old Town Design Guidelines Committee (1999-2001), Mr. Eichelberger is looking forward to once again lending insight and expertise to a board with a mission of preserving its region's world class aesthetic, both natural and designed.
Mr. Eichleberger’s broad range of experience as a landscape architect includes master planning, urban design, resource management, as well as site specific landscape design. His experience as a designer has been cultivated by work on a wide range of projects throughout the Southern California area. Trained first as an historian, before receiving his Masters degree in Landscape Architecture, Mr. Eichelberger maintains an ongoing interest in California history.
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.
Arcadia featured in Feb. issue of Santa Barbara magazine
Arcadia Studio is honored to have a project featured in the February/March edition of Santa Barbara magazine.
The featured landscape's design and installation, headed by Laurie Romano, one of Arcadia's Principals, was four years in the making. The opportunity to work on a property with such stunning natural beauty was both humbling and thrilling. Both Laurie and her husband, Keith Rivera, who designed the house, are interviewed in the article. Here's an excerpt - Laurie discusses the reflecting pool:
"It brings the ocean in when you're sitting down, and you also have a sculptural piece that is active and bounces light under the eaves. We developed it when the house was under construction. We actually set up chairs on the concrete slab and set the level of the four-sided infinity edge within the owner's sight lines. The surface material is porcelain tile made to look like Corten steel - it was a great find."
Rain Barrels Collect A Valuable Resource
It rarely rains in Santa Barbara, and when it does, it's an event as remarkable as the first sunny spring day after a long Chicago winter.
During a recent storm, I put on my rain gear and went for a walk. I watched rainwater sheet off my roof, down the driveway, and into the road. I followed the runoff down the street and into a gutter, which bore the sign "Flows straight to ocean". Sadly, i had just witnessed the entire suburban hydrologic cycle.
We have designed a build environment that, for the most part, treats water as a waste product to be disposed of as quickly as possible. The reality is just the opposite however - rain water is a precious resource.
The City of Santa Barbara realizes that water conservation is vital to the future of our community. They have been supplying rain barrels to residents for half price. We picked some up and installed them, and as I write, the new barrels are filling up in my backyard. (Info on City's earlier barrel program and the cost is still posted here. The City may "roll out" a new batch of barrels in the spring.)
Here are some photos of our new rain catchment system. We elevated the barrels to provide pressure at the outflow. They are piped together so they fill up and drain together. As you can see they fit in a small side yard. Rain barrels or a cistern are an economical way to decrease the amount of potable water that you use in the garden.
There are lots of options for rain catchment systems, from highly engineered underground cisterns to small scale residential systems like this one. Arcadia Studio understands the importance of water conservation and explores water catchment systems for our clients whenever possible.
