Saturday June 20, 10:00 to 11:30am | Manhattan Midtown Sky Garden by Hank White, FASLA, and Aaron Booher of HMWhite This excursion to a spectacular workplace landscape will take visitors up high above the busy streets of Manhattan. The award-winning, 6,500 square-foot terrace of the Midtown Manhattan Sky Garden takes advantage of panoramic skyline views while providing an intimate garden backdrop to the mid-century-modern building’s newly-renovated interior workspace. Richly textured and seasonally diverse plantings include a dense blanket of drought-tolerant prairie grasses, wildflower perennials, and spring flowering bulbs, punctuated by flowering Crab Apple trees. At twilight, the garden evolves into a subtle stage set of textured plantings, rustling softly against the glow of a frosted glass parapet rail—a soothing space where workers can escape the conference room or the electrifying noise of the dense urban environment. The roof garden’s biophilic design has elevated employees’ well-being, productivity, and morale. Photo by Aaron Booher

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

Designed for an urban family with young children, this family retreat is fully integrated into the natural surroundings of Mont Shefford. The home and surrounding property exudes the luxurious feel of a resort environment for visiting family and friends, yet still maintain a sense of intimacy. While the common living areas are within an open floorplan, various zones were created throughout the home to ensure that all those inhabiting the house at a given time would be free to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature. The central living space reveals an expansive open layout encompassing a living room, dining area, kitchen, and wine cellar. This elevated volume feels like a treehouse, immersed in a lush canopy and panoramic views to the mountains. Inspired by a natural palette, the interior and exterior materials of the home are neutral and were chosen simultaneously for their inherent natural textures and relationship with the exterior environment. This intrinsic balance is evident between the exterior’s charcoal stone, black matte metal and cedar cladding, and the interior’s organic finishes. Refined materials including glass, metal and wood were carefully selected with the intention of creating a cohesive connection between the exterior and interior. Black Fenix was selected as the primary material for all interior millwork, featuring a sleek matte finish that beautifully contrasts the warmth of natural wood elements and the organic patterns found in the porcelain tiles installed throughout the residence. The home feels modern and minimalist, yet cozy, inviting, and liveable. Architect : Maxime Moreau, MXMA Architecture & Design Photography : Nanne Springer

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

The West Town GreenStar Retrofit is a historic landmarked two-flat in Ukranian Village that was converted to an efficient, healthy, and modern single-family home, while keeping interior and exterior historic character details. Special emphasis was put on indoor air quality and indoor-outdoor connections. The design focuses on non-toxic materials, good ventilation, low energy and water use, and the biophilic health advantages of light and views of nature. The kitchen, work, and family zones have views of the sun-filled south garden, an oasis in the urban environment containing native plants and fruit trees, rain garden, vegetable garden, chicken coop, apiary, and a patio. Outdoor connection and daylighting are also optimized through the skylight on the top level which spills light down the staircase. The energy strategy began with thorough retrofit insulation and air sealing, and included high performance windows and doors, solar thermal (hot water) and solar photovoltaic (electricity production) systems which support electric vehicle (EV) charging and high-efficiency smart lighting and appliances. HVAC is supplied by a combination of radiant heat, mini-split heat pumps, and a conditioning energy recovery ventilation system (CERV).

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

Designed for an urban family with young children, this family retreat is fully integrated into the natural surroundings of Mont Shefford. The home and surrounding property exudes the luxurious feel of a resort environment for visiting family and friends, yet still maintain a sense of intimacy. While the common living areas are within an open floorplan, various zones were created throughout the home to ensure that all those inhabiting the house at a given time would be free to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature. The central living space reveals an expansive open layout encompassing a living room, dining area, kitchen, and wine cellar. This elevated volume feels like a treehouse, immersed in a lush canopy and panoramic views to the mountains. Inspired by a natural palette, the interior and exterior materials of the home are neutral and were chosen simultaneously for their inherent natural textures and relationship with the exterior environment. This intrinsic balance is evident between the exterior’s charcoal stone, black matte metal and cedar cladding, and the interior’s organic finishes. Refined materials including glass, metal and wood were carefully selected with the intention of creating a cohesive connection between the exterior and interior. Black Fenix was selected as the primary material for all interior millwork, featuring a sleek matte finish that beautifully contrasts the warmth of natural wood elements and the organic patterns found in the porcelain tiles installed throughout the residence. The home feels modern and minimalist, yet cozy, inviting, and liveable. Architect : Maxime Moreau, MXMA Architecture & Design Photography : Nanne Springer

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

Saturday June 20, 10:00 to 11:30am | Manhattan Midtown Sky Garden by Hank White, FASLA, and Aaron Booher of HMWhite This excursion to a spectacular workplace landscape will take visitors up high above the busy streets of Manhattan. The award-winning, 6,500 square-foot terrace of the Midtown Manhattan Sky Garden takes advantage of panoramic skyline views while providing an intimate garden backdrop to the mid-century-modern building’s newly-renovated interior workspace. Richly textured and seasonally diverse plantings include a dense blanket of drought-tolerant prairie grasses, wildflower perennials, and spring flowering bulbs, punctuated by flowering Crab Apple trees. At twilight, the garden evolves into a subtle stage set of textured plantings, rustling softly against the glow of a frosted glass parapet rail—a soothing space where workers can escape the conference room or the electrifying noise of the dense urban environment. The roof garden’s biophilic design has elevated employees’ well-being, productivity, and morale. Photo copyright C. Taylor Crothers Photography

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

Designed for an urban family with young children, this family retreat is fully integrated into the natural surroundings of Mont Shefford. The home and surrounding property exudes the luxurious feel of a resort environment for visiting family and friends, yet still maintain a sense of intimacy. While the common living areas are within an open floorplan, various zones were created throughout the home to ensure that all those inhabiting the house at a given time would be free to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature. The central living space reveals an expansive open layout encompassing a living room, dining area, kitchen, and wine cellar. This elevated volume feels like a treehouse, immersed in a lush canopy and panoramic views to the mountains. Inspired by a natural palette, the interior and exterior materials of the home are neutral and were chosen simultaneously for their inherent natural textures and relationship with the exterior environment. This intrinsic balance is evident between the exterior’s charcoal stone, black matte metal and cedar cladding, and the interior’s organic finishes. Refined materials including glass, metal and wood were carefully selected with the intention of creating a cohesive connection between the exterior and interior. Black Fenix was selected as the primary material for all interior millwork, featuring a sleek matte finish that beautifully contrasts the warmth of natural wood elements and the organic patterns found in the porcelain tiles installed throughout the residence. The home feels modern and minimalist, yet cozy, inviting, and liveable. Architect : Maxime Moreau, MXMA Architecture & Design Kitchen : Fjord Intérieurs Photography : Nanne Springer

A rooftop garden installation on top of a garage can be a beautiful addition to any urban space. Using a mix of planters and perennials, the installation was designed to incorporate both edible and non-edible plants. Mixing vegetables and herbs with perennial flowers and shrubs created a lush and diverse garden that is not only visually appealing but also productive. The garden is arranged in a way that maximizes space while also providing enough room for each plant to grow and flourish. With minimal care and attention, a rooftop garden will provide fresh produce and a serene environment for years to come.

This very large corner site was shrouded in tired and thirsty conventional lawn. Really a bland, uninteresting monoculture—impossible to maintain especially in light of our dwindling resources and our growing understanding about sustainable practices. We chose to approach this project not with the idea that existing lawn is bad, but with respect for what lawn has historically represented: a socially connective tissue. Instead of conventional grass requiring endlessly large amounts of water, chemicals and mowing, this lawn conversion shifts to a naturalistic native meadow mix splashed with wildflowers and drought tolerant native shrubs. It was the clients’ desire to be wrapped by a garden attracting native pollinators and beneficial insects. A wildlife photographer, they wanted the opportunity to open windows and doors and feel immediately connected to a coastal native environment. The handsome new stone walls, stairs and massive boulders became the structural framework containing the loose, coastal sage scrub plant community, holding the landscape together during the dormant months. As we continue to grow our acceptance of and appreciation for climate appropriate California gardens, and embrace the paradigm shift, let us graciously bid adieu to our home’s unsustainable velvet robe.

The design for this home in Palo Alto looked to create a union between the interior and exterior, blending the spaces in such a way as to allow residents to move seamlessly between the two environments. Expansive glazing was used throughout the home to complement this union, looking out onto a swimming pool centrally located within the courtyard. Within the living room, a large operable skylight brings in plentiful sunlight, while utilizing self tinting glass that adjusts to various lighting conditions throughout the day to ensure optimal comfort. For the exterior, a living wall was added to the garage that continues into the backyard. Extensive landscaping and a gabion wall was also created to provide privacy and contribute to the sense of the home as a tranquil oasis.

Designed for an urban family with young children, this family retreat is fully integrated into the natural surroundings of Mont Shefford. The home and surrounding property exudes the luxurious feel of a resort environment for visiting family and friends, yet still maintain a sense of intimacy. While the common living areas are within an open floorplan, various zones were created throughout the home to ensure that all those inhabiting the house at a given time would be free to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature. The central living space reveals an expansive open layout encompassing a living room, dining area, kitchen, and wine cellar. This elevated volume feels like a treehouse, immersed in a lush canopy and panoramic views to the mountains. Inspired by a natural palette, the interior and exterior materials of the home are neutral and were chosen simultaneously for their inherent natural textures and relationship with the exterior environment. This intrinsic balance is evident between the exterior’s charcoal stone, black matte metal and cedar cladding, and the interior’s organic finishes. Refined materials including glass, metal and wood were carefully selected with the intention of creating a cohesive connection between the exterior and interior. Black Fenix was selected as the primary material for all interior millwork, featuring a sleek matte finish that beautifully contrasts the warmth of natural wood elements and the organic patterns found in the porcelain tiles installed throughout the residence. The home feels modern and minimalist, yet cozy, inviting, and liveable. Architect : Maxime Moreau, MXMA Architecture & Design Photography : Nanne Springer