A flooded forest with tall trees reflected in a still water surface, lush green leaves, and sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Washington Valley — NJ

Design meditations

The tempo of the world quickens with busier streets and denser cities. The home serves as a refuge and a sanctuary. Landscapes and gardens provide beauty, function, and a sense of shelter. They are gathering areas, quiet contemplative spaces, and a setting from which to observe nature.

A balance of three

The best project outcomes occur when equal proportions of respect exist between the three main entities.

  • Site
    Landscape character + history + natural conditions

  • Client
    Objectives + tastes + commitment level

  • Designer
    Design instinct + aesthetic concerns + functional considerations

Observing land, culture, and time

East and West
Geographically, the Pacific Northwest sits midway between Europe and Asia. In its architecture, cuisine, art, and landscapes, the region carries the quiet influence of both. This unique position allows European, American, and Asian aesthetic traditions to merge—subtly, without clear boundaries.

Site
Each site is unique, shaped by its own history and inherent characteristics. Throughout the ages, land has been fought over, claimed, and defended. Even the most ordinary suburban lot represents a small portion of the Earth’s finite landmass and offers a view of the stars and moon above. Any change to a site should be approached with respect.

Agricultural
Of the many economic eras this country has experienced—Colonial, Agricultural, Industrial, Technological, and Financial—the Agricultural era left the most enduring and desirable imprint on the American landscape. The farmhouse, with its barns, hedgerows, orchards, fields, and stone walls, has come to represent an ideal that resonates deeply with many. Landscape architecture can draw upon these enduring elements, reinterpreting their rustic beauty and functional simplicity for contemporary life.

Simplicity
Changes to a landscape should be subtle, joining the site and its surroundings in harmony. One of the greatest compliments I have received went something like this: “I can’t really remember how it was before—it feels as though it was always this way.” Overbearing landscape elements can diminish the inherent beauty of a place. Restraint is key.

Natural vs. Manmade
I strive to achieve a balance between land shaped for human use and land left to nature. People require organized spatial environments that are defined, functional, and maintainable. Nature thrives in settings that are less controlled—wilder, softer, and more fluid. The thoughtful juxtaposition of these hard and soft landscapes creates a relationship that is mutually beneficial.

Observations
In my travels and explorations, I photograph and take notes on both natural and man-made environments, which serve as a source of inspiration and reflection.

Stone walled home with verdant ferns lining a pathway to the front door and beyond.
A person standing on a large rock by the water, with a cloudy sky and distant shoreline in the background.
low angle image of a field in late summer. Queen Ann's lace sway in the breeze.
Opening pathway in a green field with wildflowers and a forest in the background. The sky is patterned with clouds and sun.
City in the background with a bike path in the foreground.
Golden wheat field under a cloudy sky with rolling hills in the background.
Sunset behind tall pine trees and a grassy landscape with smaller trees and shrubs.
A tranquil scene of a river surrounded by lush green trees and bushes, with the trees reflecting in the calm water surface.
A tranquil rainforest scene showing tall trees with green leaves, partially submerged in water, creating reflections of the trees in the water.
Pink cherry blossoms outside a window with a wooden lattice frame, in front of a traditional building with a tiled roof.