To bring the outside in, to create a vibrant living garden within the confines of a building, is one of the greatest challenges facing contemporary architecture. In cities, and in inclement climates, the atrium may be the only opportunity to integrate warmth, sunshine, and greenery into our lives. To successfully create an atrium garden requires an in-depth understanding of the physiological requirements of plants, and how these relate to the architectural setting.
I have designed and constructed atrium gardens and water features for numerous large hotels across the country, and in so doing have gained a thorough understanding of the architectural parameters that will support an interior landscape with minimum maintenance requirements.
I am particularly interested in developing wintergarden concepts for eldercare facilities. Let the golden years of our lives be filled with light, life, blossoms, and butterflies. Pick a fresh tomato in January. Sit with your friends on a sunny bench while the cold wind blows outside. All of this, and more, is possible if we design health and eldercare facilities that fully integrate landscape design and architecture.