Celebrating Word Landscape Architecture Month 2022
Meet Roger – Project Manager with Eberly & Associates!
– What advice would you give to emerging professionals?
Ask questions and learn everything you can – including areas that don’t necessarily excite you and adjacent professions. I believe in order to become a good landscape architect, you’ll need a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in all aspects of the profession, as well as a working knowledge of adjacent professions like civil engineering, horticulture, and architecture.
–What is your favorite flower/plant?
It’s probably a boring answer, but Tulip Poplar trees. They’re native to Georgia, have striking yellow fall color, grow fast, and can be used in a variety of landscape designs.…plus, they can get HUGE! Favorite flower are daffodils. I love how you don’t know they’re there until early spring when they’re all blooming at once, often in places you’d least expect. If done well, they can be very dramatic.
– Where do you get your inspiration? Do you have any go-to sources?
First and foremost…. the client! Obviously, the client’s needs and wishes will primarily drive any design. Secondly, the site’s physical, social and historical context. A project needs to fit its surroundings, whether it be a building, a campus, a city block, or a natural environment while considering the site history.
– What is your design philosophy?
My design philosophy targets creative design solutions that skillfully accommodate client’s needs. When designing I consider the end user experience, the natural environment, functionality, engineering, cost and maintenance. I strive to deliver inspired yet sensible projects.
Meet Jennifer – An Associate with Eberly & Associates and the leader of our landscape architecture team!
– Why Landscape Architecture?
When I was 17, and making plans for college, I had never heard of landscape architecture. Knowing my passions and interests, my dad pulled out the “L” volume from the shelf (yes, I’m “Encyclopedia Britannica years old”), and showed me the entry for Landscape Architecture. It seemed to combine my love of nature, art, design, and construction. I decided to give it a go, and the rest is history.
– What is your favorite flower/plant?
Almost anything en masse gets my blood pumping. The fields of tulips at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in the spring? Breathtaking. A mass of Pink Muhly Grass? Amazing. For specimens, I love architectural plants like Maidenhair Fern, Weeping Forsythia, Paperbark Maples, London Plane Trees, and plants with bold colors like Sunshine Ligustrum and Black Taffeta Heuchera.
– What is your favorite contemporary landscape?
I’ve become much more of an urbanist, and love so many contemporary urban plazas and spaces, but historic landscapes are still very moving and close to my heart. Some of my all-time favorite places are Bryant Park, Dumbarton Oaks, the landscapes and monuments of Washington DC, the Piazza della Rotonda, and the Irish countryside. I love what’s happening at Hudson Yards and along the Highline in New York. A frequent traveler to Istanbul, a lot of new construction – while a bit of an overwhelming amount – of residences and retail are very well done. And, I am a sucker for most any landscape/art installation.
– What is your design philosophy?
Every project is unique. It’s all about the user experience – you must understand your audience, and the site equally. Our work is a wonderful distilling of site, character, sustainability, materials, construction, and longevity. I always like to see how we can stretch construction dollars with minimal to no effect on the vision. My personal philosophy is to find the opportunity in the challenge, be responsive, and authentic.
