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In case you missed it on our story – this VBD ga In case you missed it on our story – this VBD garden and preliminary concept plan is now 10 years old! Incorporating native and edible plantings into our designs is very much a part of our practice today as it was all these years ago…and in the case of this formal green and white garden, you’d never know it!
Its Friday...celebrating with a B E F O R E and A Its Friday...celebrating with a B E F O R E and A F T E R image from one of our projects in Ohio. Reclaimed sandstone curbs, fence restoration, and colourful plantings create a cohesive invitation. Further, the wing of the building had pale blue painted clapboard siding; upon researching historically accurate paint colours, the colour 'soldier blue' was selected to give a more authentic and saturated look and feel. The final outcome was a historical colour available from @benjaminmoore called Van Duesen Blue. Photography: @rsmphoto
Seeking an intermediate to senior landscape archit Seeking an intermediate to senior landscape architect who is seeking to create meaningful and beautiful work in our Dundas, Ontario, office. Virginia Burt Designs is a team of landscape architects and designers whose inspirations and interests include travel, agriculture, photography, collaboration with artists, fabricators and nurserymen, art, history, and the beauty of the natural world. Together in our collaborative office, we create poetry in landscapes. Visit our website at www.vburtdesigns.com for more information and find a list of job responsibilities and qualifications posted on the OALA website https://www.oala.ca/jobs/job-listing-details/?joblist=49319. All applications and inquires can be directed to Michele at michele@vburtdesigns.com.
A F T E R and B E F O R E | one of our cozy and lu A F T E R and B E F O R E | one of our cozy and lush outdoor rooms. . On an early Monday morning, you just want to curl up here with your cup of coffee... and in the evening, your of wine!
Our beautiful Blue Mountain project, naturalized w Our beautiful Blue Mountain project, naturalized with pollinators and bluebird attracting wildflowers.
Drawings from the late Canadian landscape architec Drawings from the late Canadian landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander who would be celebrating her 101st birthday today! VBD is honoured to have worked with Cornelia who shared her creativity and love of nature with us well into her 90s. Today we celebrate Cornelia and are delighted to have some of her original drawings here in office - tasked with the refresh of her landscapes decades later!
Too often, sustainability takes a back seat in est Too often, sustainability takes a back seat in estate residential design. The Great Oak residence demonstrates how a comprehensive approach to sustainable design can be effectively implemented in a historic residential context...you would never know that this charming and intimate fireplace and dining terrace is part the estate's green infrastructure system which conveys storm water run-off to an underground detention system for infiltration... which then is discharged to naturalized rain gardens to support groundwater recharge. 😎 @rsmphoto
In case you were wondering about the people behind In case you were wondering about the people behind this account and the work here at VBD…prepare yourself for some introductions this week! First off, we have Virginia Burt, FCSLA, FASLA, landscape architect and Principal of Virginia Burt Designs Inc.. Virginia, (also known as Gin, Ginny, and V!) has been passionately in pursuit of landscape architectural excellence for her entire 36 year career and her love of the land has been a lifetime journey: having grown up on an apple farm, she developed a passion for being outside and understanding the rhythms of nature; today, her work in rewilding, restoration, and healing landscapes and gardens is widely recognized in both Canada and the US.
Rain storms are brewing this week...anyone else lo Rain storms are brewing this week...anyone else love the ominous, yet calm before the storm? . This photo was taken from one of our projects in Cleveland, Ohio. Highlighting dramatic views over forested hillsides to the city beyond, this garden layers four season plantings and provides a livable gallery for the owner's extensive and diverse collection of sculpture. This reflecting pool serves as a modernist focal point, and occasionally as a wading pool for grandchildren.
C O N C E P T | C O M P L E T I O N Shneider heali C O N C E P T | C O M P L E T I O N Shneider healing garden located in Cleveland's University Hospitals' downtown medical campus - the Seidman Cancer Center (SCC). Located at the front door of the SCC, on a previously underutilized street corner, the garden is now overlooked and enjoyed by 1000's of patients and staff - helping to relieve stress. @rsmphoto
2022 National Award of Excellence winners have bee 2022 National Award of Excellence winners have been announced by the CSLA ! So delighted and grateful for our team to receive an award in the category of small-scale public landscapes for Morgan’s Garden – The gift that keeps on giving. We are honoured to be included and so grateful for all the folks that made this project possible. Photography: @rsmphoto Design team: @virginiaburtdesigns , Paul Carabott , and @emilyruththorpe
Another one from Sycamore Manor: It brings such a Another one from Sycamore Manor: It brings such a distinct joy to work closely with local artisans and create such beautiful designs. Pictured here are the garden plinths - capped with a hand carved stone cap with a Sycamore leaf motif - the Sycamore, one of the greatest native trees of the riparian woodland that surrounds this residence. Photography @rsmphoto
Happy Tuesday folks! Before our team heads to the Happy Tuesday folks! Before our team heads to the @lagershed this evening, we thought we would share one of our favourite photos from our project Sycamore Manor: Nestled into the rolling wooded slopes of Hunting Valley, this new manor was sited carefully to capture views of a nearby tributary and preserve the surrounding riparian woodland and uplands. In the architecture, sycamores are reflected in the windows above, and carved sycamore details frame the opening of the porte cochere; drawing the eye from detail, the landscape beckons, a stone wellhead and entrance gateway lead to the sycamore woods beyond… Photography : @rsmphoto Architecture : William H. Childs, Jr. & Associates
Step on in! Seeking a junior landscape architect w Step on in! Seeking a junior landscape architect who is motivated to create meaningful and beautiful work from our office located in Dundas, Ontario. Virginia Burt Designs is a team of landscape architects and designers whose inspirations and interests include travel, agriculture, photography, collaboration with artists, fabricators and nurserymen, art, history, and the beauty of the natural world. Together in our collaborative office, we create poetry in landscapes. Visit our website at www.vburtdesigns.com for more information and find job responsibilities and qualifications posted on the OALA website https://www.oala.ca/jobs/job-listing-details/?joblist=49320. All applications and inquires can be directed to Michele at michele@vburtdesigns.com.
"Drawing is not what one sees but what one can mak "Drawing is not what one sees but what one can make others see." - Edgar Degas These quick concept sketches by Virginia wowed us the other day in office: we draw constantly to communicate our passion for plants, places, and people ! :D
This week we visited our new project on Lake Musko This week we visited our new project on Lake Muskoka with @trevormcivorarchitect, @tamaracknorthltd and @rockscape . Grateful for stunning views and fresh frosty air out on the lake!
A F T E R | CONCEPT | and before... Local and rec A F T E R | CONCEPT | and before... Local and reclaimed materials blend seamlessly to enhance the entry of this historical home - chain and hammer distressed new stone steps to a bespoke finish.
A green post for today 🍀 : One of our favourite A green post for today 🍀 : One of our favourite natives - Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium.
As an addition to a classically-inspired brick hou As an addition to a classically-inspired brick house - the dining pavilion intersects the long perpendicular axis extending north and south across the length of the pool...The dining pavilion includes grill, fireplace, dining for 12, and space for entertaining on "game day"...its set 18" above the pool terrace with broad steps descending toward the pool and spa area - the hot tub tucked away in a sheltered corner for year round use.
Located on the roof of an architecturally signific Located on the roof of an architecturally significant heritage building, the rooftop garden exemplifies the integration of past and present cultural layers which define its context. Transforming an existing ballast roof, the dynamic rooftop garden is an elegant composition of productive green space and peaceful respite overlooking the city. Designed to combine aesthetic, sustainable and historic design principles, the garden enhances the outdoor living needs of a retired couple. Materials and detailing strongly reflect the genius loci of this rust belt city and have significant meaning to the owner by recalling the industrial and agricultural roots of their family. The garden draws further inspiration from the historic City Beautiful neighborhood below while responding to the pressures of urban intensification with the intent of increasing green infrastructure. Adjacent neighbors, birds, pollinators and other city dwellers alike reap the benefits of this garden in the sky.
A F T E R | B E F O R E ... and more after . Locat A F T E R | B E F O R E ... and more after . Located on Nova Scotia’s dramatic coastline, the construction of the new residence at Acadia Point disturbed virgin forest significantly. Our work had two goals: to restore nature and to connect the new build to its rock and spruce environment. . The woodland disturbed by construction was reforested and ecological integrity revived. To integrate architecture and landscape, terraces, decks, and plantings were introduced, serving as connective tissue and emphasizing the stunning peninsular geography.
MORGANS GARDEN: A one of a kind therapeutic urban MORGANS GARDEN: A one of a kind therapeutic urban garden dedicated to adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Morgan’s Garden at Monarch Lifeworks School furthers pre-vocational training with urban agriculture, social interaction and sensory integration with a new horticultural therapy room, and promotes cognitive stimulation and physical (gross and fine motor skill) development. In the creation of the garden, the landscape architecture team established specific design guidelines by reviewing and combining more traditional therapeutic guidelines, ASD-related legislation, established ASD-centred design principles, conducting interviews, and facilitating input sessions with the community; design for both physical and neurological diversity required intense collaboration with behaviourists, medical staff, educators, and social workers to provide specialized knowledge and support. As a result, the therapeutic garden, while assisting in the socioeconomic inclusion for adults with ASD, greatly enhances the standards of care to this marginalized population and has significantly contributed to the school’s involvement within the surrounding community. Morgan’s Garden has become a defining feature Monarch school – a healing, engaging, and empowering space - where individuals, regardless of mental or physical ability, can receive both self-directed and supervised care, explore, and engage with Nature. This is one of landscape architecture’s highest callings: Providing an inclusive, integrated, therapeutic garden to the core programming for an underserved population while fostering relationships to natural processes, stewarding usable green urban spaces, and strengthening community bonds.
Featuring - in part - resolution of cross-axes in Featuring - in part - resolution of cross-axes in the architecture and landscape architecture of this project: The north-south axis is extended with a formally planted garden path which leads to a bench beneath an espaliered apple tree.
D A Y | N I G H T | W I N T E R A B O U T : One o D A Y | N I G H T | W I N T E R A B O U T : One of a series of gardens at this historic residence; rehabilitation of the gardens incorporates 21st century sustainability to create a model for stewardship. The garden delicately balances formality with rustic finishes: Dry stack stone walls border the north-south axis unifying views from within the house and alignment with reflecting pool and classical sculpture. An immersive experience is accentuated by plantings of color, form and texture. By incorporating moonlighting, a magical and romantic feeling invites both mind and stroll journeys at all times and in seasons.
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Virginia Burt designs

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