Landscape Architect & Specifier News

MAR 2018

LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.

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sustainability. Another question he poses to them is, "Does the term 'natural' include people or not?" For his own work, Kelly focuses intently on place-based design. "The world is developing so fast," he observes, adding that as a landscape architect his intention is to avoid creating spaces and places that all look like one another, no matter the location. "I want to honor the elements. We have the ability as landscape architects to capture that, to celebrate culture rather than to lose it." His philosophy is to provide opportunities through design for the celebration of life as an important process, and "to walk softly and leave the site better for our involvement." Therefore, it is critical throughout the entire landscape design process to take into consideration the history of the site and the materials best suited for it. Another aspect of his design philosophy is the fact that you do not plant a landscape; instead, you grow one. "This begins with the earth and courses its way through all that follows. Everything is a detail, and every detail must make sense for the project, place, time and context in which it exists." Kelly has honed his skills since beginning his career in San Diego as a military planner and landscape draftsman. From California, where he was originally licensed as a landscape architect, he moved to Wisconsin and started Kelly Design Group, LLC in 1994. The firm's projects encompass residential, municipal, commercial, urban, educational and recreational designs, as well as environmental restoration. A huge issue for Kelly is water harvesting. He participated in the Western Water Resources Symposium in 2015 in Washington, 46 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Kelly's intent as a landscape architect is to avoid creating spaces and places that all look like one another, no matter the location. For him it is critical throughout the design work to take into consideration the history of the site and the materials best suited for it.

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