SUNKEN GARDEN
LOCATION: SOMERVILLE, MA, USA
YEAR: 2021
AREA: 1,200 ft²
PROGRAM: ON-GRADE GARDEN WITHIN A THREE-STOREY VOID VOLUME WITH PUBLIC ACCESS
STATUS: BUILT
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landscape / urban
seasonal ornamental herbaceous flowering plants & evergreen grasses
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This project particularly entailed creating a garden on grade within a three-story high void volume, surrounded by walls, that is open to the sky – thus its sunken characteristic.
Honey locust trees gently reach out to the sky with its canopy peaking through and can be seen from the second level adjacent outdoor patios. Larger seating areas that would seat 4-6 people and smaller, more intimate niches were created through the concrete pavers with winding edge patterns that help create the appearance of an organically sprouting garden. The plants beds were filled with herbaceous plants that flower in different seasons with burgundies, yellow greens, whites and reds for pops of colors throughout the seasons. The plants were arranged to produce a textural view of the landscape whether viewing from within, across or above the garden.
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landscape design
project management
value engineering
construction management
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Groundview Llc, Emanouil Inc.
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Nina Gonzalez
Honey locust trees emphasize the three story height void of the sunken garden
View from interior
Vestiges of existing concrete column with new concrete shear walls flank the sunken garden walls
