FOREWORD
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
PROCESS \ ANALYSIS
BELLE HAVEN
WEST HILL
ACROSS GEOGRAPHIES
THE MAIN LINE
STANWICH
CREDITS
An Intersection of Nature and Art
From the moment that we, as a species, transitioned from nomadic hunter to early settler and began to control our environment, we have also sought to embellish it. The pleasure and joy that we receive from interacting with nature is both therapeutic and cathartic, and it is widely accepted that the healing power of nature on the human psyche is both underrated and underutilized. Nature’s reassuring presence in our lives is given further potency when it is crafted, managed, and tamed into a refined aesthetic and becomes ‘art’, and in the hands of experts such as James Doyle, Justin Quinn, and their firm, our personal environments are reconfigured in such a way that nature is allowed to amaze, calm, and beguile. The skill of a master designer such as James, whom I have known and admired for over fifteen years, is a lightness of touch that allows a harmonization of human-made and botanical elements to convey a specific mood and narrative.
There is beauty in a well-tended vegetable patch, an immaculate lawn, an intentionally ‘wild’ meadow and the sobering majesty of trees. The skill in managing these elements and creating the landscape is an act of creative flair and humility. We seek to manipulate nature while respecting its omnipotent influence on our lives. Embellishing our worlds with design, structure, vistas, and art allows us to have a sense of ownership of this, our extended domain.
I have always sought to place sculpture within landscapes that pay homage to and take their inspiration from their natural surroundings. The skill of a designer, whether they are manipulating the landscape or creating a work of art to sit within a landscape, is not purely a one-dimensional talent; it also demands an instinctive and emotional connection with nature, requiring a multifaceted approach. Reflecting on the many examples of sculpture placed in nature throughout the world, and over many millennia, perhaps we are worshipping nature with these offerings—or perhaps we are embellishing nature for our own pleasure. What is certain, though, is that we are adding value to our extended realm, whether intellectual, spiritual, or purely financial. Whatever the motivation, the art or sculpture serves to remind us that we value our surroundings; we respect our domains and seek to convey a little of who we are; our aesthetic, our values, and our beliefs.
Over the years I have watched the physical and emotional evolution of JDDA’s work and it is truly evident in this monograph. I have marveled at the consistent quest for refinement and sophistication and admired their ever-evolving and maturing palette. In all their landscapes they respect the elements and the integrity of nature, as well as embellishing the space with their own particular style. They create a joyous juxtaposition between the sophisticated architectural elements and the reassuringly organic mood of the planting, with the occasional sculptural addition.
The joy of walking within a JDDA landscape affords us both a mental and physical calm. The evolution of the body of work is an inspiration to us all.
“Nature nurtures and we embellish as an act of respect.”DAVID HARBER
I am pleased to introduce this collection of recent work. It represents the evolution of our firm, our thought processes, and the exciting, ever‐changing world of landscape architecture. Reflecting on these projects, I can’t help but feel excited about the future and all the great work that is yet to be done. The path forward for JDDA is already being forged by a new generation of talented landscape architects whose voices are reflected in the work, namely my partner Justin Quinn and our senior associates.
Contact with nature has become a central element in the design of healthy spaces, whether they are urban or rural, grand or intimate. Here at JDDA, we believe that the art and practice of placemaking begins with an expanded sense of respect and responsibility for our natural communities. Our desire and impetus to connect with the natural environment and recreate ideal landscapes feels more urgent than ever as we all seek out reflection and quietude from an increasingly chaotic world.
The tradition of gardening has always been the base and backbone of my personal practice, key to which is the creation of environments that connect us to the natural world. Russell Page was one of the great English garden designers of the twentieth-century and one of my major influences. Trained as an artist, Page brought an architectural sensibility and keen eye for design to every project he undertook. His work has taught me about volume and space, scale and proportion. It has also taught me about the importance of observation and how to use materials, plants, and water to express my ideas and beliefs. He has been quoted as saying that he knew more about plants than most designers and more about design than most plantsmen. While I don’t claim to be as knowledgeable as Page, I can say that my natural affinity for plants and design is informed by my deep interest in art and architecture. That passion has led me to develop JDDA into a firm of contemporary practitioners who specialize in a type of landscape architecture that derives from garden design.
My admiration for farmers and the farming lifestyle also runs deep. I embrace the farming ethic that the earth, in its natural state, is a gift and that it is a farmer’s duty to preserve and protect the land for future generations. The sustainable farmer and author James Rebanks advocates this belief when he writes, “We can work the land and still have healthy soil, rivers, wetlands, woodland and scrub. We can have fields full of wildflowers and grasses, swarming with insects, butterflies, and birds.” (English Pastoral: An Inheritance , 2020).
I love this quote because it argues that farmers can act as environmental advocates by implementing methods of farming that allow natural flora and fauna to live side by side with livestock and crops. Likewise, conscientious landscape designers can, and indeed must, implement methods of design to achieve harmony between built and natural spaces. As a firm that’s known for our innovative and sustainable designs and unwavering attention to detail in crafting, JDDA sees landscape design as more than just placemaking. We see it as a way to educate people about the environment while enriching the lives of those who occupy our spaces. Our clients are integral to our process as we balance the effects of place and space with their desires and requirements. And by drawing them into our process, we know we can introduce them to ideas and design concepts that are further enhancing the architectural design landscape.
At JDDA, we are passionate about creating beautiful and sustainable landscapes that engage and inspire, and designs that strive for sophistication through restraint. A hallmark of our work is THE INTERSECTION OF NATURE AND ART. The evolution of our designs and our design philosophy is represented in this book and in our broader portfolio of projects. I hope you enjoy.
“The gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.”
OVERFLOW
CORTEN STEEL PICKET WELDED TO ANGLE IRON
x 4” x 56”
PICKETS WELDED TO ANGLE IRON
DETAIL 4/L-5.10
FABRICATE PANELS AT 5’-10” LENGTH TYP. SHOP DRAWINGS TO REFLECT FINAL LAYOUT AND SHORTER LENGTHS
TOP OF RUNNEL
POOL TERRACE
FINISHED GRADE
MATCH
WALL VENEER
DRIVEWAY
TOWARD DRIVEWAY, SEE GRADING PLAN
STEEL EDGING
What a joy it is to maintain strong relationships with clients over the years and be able to watch their families grow. We first renovated this property back in 2000 and were delighted to be called upon once again to re-envision the landscape for a new architectural program. What we’d learned from our previous interactions with these clients was that they possessed a deep nostalgia and appreciation for their property. Because selling the place was the last thing they wanted, we were determined to collaborate with the architect and interior designer to come up with a plan that would fulfill the evolving needs of this growing family. Bringing a fresh vision to an old plan comes with its own set of challenges. But with each challenge comes a unique solution. And as compelling as the original landscape and architecture were, the property needed an update that would better serve the clients’ contemporary lifestyle.
For our part, most of the design planning was focused on the rear exterior of the house, where the family does most of their entertaining. Quality materials were key from the start, and we drew inspiration from the architect’s allegiance to indoor/outdoor living. However, the small narrow space in question presented a design challenge, due much in part to the site’s grade changes. Instead of leveling the entire area, we chose instead to embrace the site’s uneven grade, building long terrace beds that helped maximize usable space and add visual interest. Choice materials and accents added flair: A blazing Japanese maple and a mass of sedum, planted in the upper and lower levels of a custom zinc planter, offer vibrant seasonal color.
The architecture for this new home was inspired by the villas in northern Italy. The house rose on the site of the owner’s previous residence, except their new house would now accommodate larger family gatherings. The architects created a graciously proportioned home suitable to the unusually flat property. The house’s highly symmetrical façade was softened with mounded evergreens and king palms; elegant limestone urns were set against the façade. The tall Italian cypress trees and large jacaranda trees preface a formal courtyard that is defined by sheared boxwoods, pygmy date palms, and a solid groundcover of star jasmine. The house unfolds along the central axis from the front entrance: through the cloister, living room, rear loggia, and all the way back to the pool house loggia. To take advantage of the southern California climate, indoor/ outdoor spaces were a must. This is realized in the rear of the house with its procession of spaces for outdoor lounging and alfresco dining. Axial views and pathways take you from a pergola-covered terrace through rose gardens set in sheared boxwoods.
The plant scheme for this project was conceived around seasonal color and the client’s love of aromatic plants. Perfumed shrubs such as glossy abelia, winter daphne, mock orange, viburnum and star jasmine have been sewn all throughout the grounds, but it is in the new formal herb garden where fragrant plants and European olive and Meyer lemon trees are featured prominently.
Offering distinct spaces of respite, this garden stimulates the senses as the greenery contrasts with the building’s northern Italian hues.
LEED AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS/STRATEGIES
Development and oversight of LEED-certified design program, including extensive calculation to comply with U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for a residential site.
Preserved existing ledge outcropping, mature woods, sloping topography, and protected wetlands.
Utilized locally sourced hard- and softscape materials in keeping with existing site features.
Worked with client and architect to site new home within the footprint of the original residence.
Sited a new swimming pool adjacent to existing rock ledge without disturbing outcropping.
Preserved 56 percent of the site as untouched woodlands and wetlands.
Embraced the changes of grade and sited a sunken parking courtyard to not detract from views.
Selected 79 percent of all trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials planted that are considered native or drought-tolerant by the USGBC.
Designed the landscape to be more than 80 percent permeable to promote natural drainage.
Installed a high-efficiency irrigation system to limit water waste.
Implemented regional materials; hardwood decking, bluestone, and gabion walls converge with the existing site to create visual interest.
