The Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) has announced the winners of its 2019 design awards. The international designer of the year will be announced at the group's annual conference July 25-29 in Seattle, WA.
photos: Matthew Cunningham – click to enlarge
GOLD award
Matthew Cunningham
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design
Berkshire Residence, Great Barrington, MA
The owners of the property wanted a retreat that could be used year-round and to take advantage of the scenic mountain views. They also wanted to integrate the interiors and exterior spaces of the main home and guest cabin.
Major challenges during the design process included a 30 foot change in elevation, erosion problems, a thin layer of soil, which meant that only a shallow layer of soil could be used on much of the property. There were also strict watershed protection requirements, and existing mature canopy trees had to be registered and protected during construction.
Cunningham used native sods to stabilize the landscape, and plants were selected to prevent soil erosion. To form dramatic terraces, he regraded slopes and installed board-form concrete retaining walls. The main terrace on the upper level and the terraces near the swimming pool are all patterned after elevations in the interior of the residence. Rain gardens were also created to deal with stormwater coming off the roof and draining from hardscape areas.
As Cunningham described the project, it's an "authentic display of multi-seasonal color year-round…. and the mountainside retreat is firmly rooted into its surrounding context."
photos: Martin Mann Photography
GOLD award
Joel Berlin
AnandaScapes LLC
Koch Project, San Diego, CA
This project involved a re-do of the original landscaping installed with the 1932 Spanish Revival home. The new owners wanted to remove three lawn areas and two old southern magnolias that blocked a neighbor's view of the distant canyon, to enclose the property for security reasons, and to fix parts of a crumbling 10-foot retaining wall.
To qualify for a Water Authority rebate on the lawn removal, designer Joel Berlin had to meet strict time limits and create a new planting plan with low water requirements and that would do well with drip irrigation. Berlin was also asked to design two Spanish Revival-style gates/doors to enclose the site and to also add some laser-cut metal screens, water and fire features.
The clients asked that the entire landscape plan preserve existing hardscape, so Berlin had to work within limiting constraints. Nevertheless, he was able to install a new water/fire feature, metal planters, flagstone paths, and a special patina on the metal gates. In all, a very fitting design for a property in the Banker's Hill area of San Diego.
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