Design Philosophy:

I feel lucky to have a job that pulls me in the direction of exploring ideas that are themselves evolving out of all the other ideas that I've been tapping into over the course of my career. Where do these ideas come from? I have no idea. All I can say is that designing gardens is always an act of sublime discovery, and the reason why people hire me is that they see and feel and experience the same undercurrent of wonder that guides me in the things I do. 

Gardens themselves are not static, which is one of the things I truly love about gardens. I start them, give them a structure to begin from, and after a few years, they become their own thing, and I stand back and marvel at what nature does when youstart a seed.  It's very humbling work. 

For me, I love the contrast and tension created when you combine geometry with plants, order and wilderness. Gardens are all about that for me. I worked for a long time with architect George Brook-Kathlow, who embodied the idea that nature and modernity are the yin/yang of good design. We are earthlings, and it seems like one of our most important jobs is to honor and respect our home, this planet. At the same time, we are humans, a complex species hell bent on remaking the world to suit our needs and desires. But that meeting point does not need to be deleterious to us or the earth, and although we just haven't reached that point of balance yet, I remain hopeful. My job is to make that case and to create as much beauty as I can along the way.

Practical Things:

I'm a designer primarily, though I am very hands-on during the construction phase. I'm usually on site to oversee grading, layout, some aspects of construction, plant placement etc. I often design, build and install water features in my gardens, only because that work is so subjective, and it's hard for anyone to pull it off the way it needs to be done. Other than that, my on site work is primarily to support the design and to consult with installers.  

I do the grand gamut of design work- from preliminary design through to construction documents. I design everything -  gardens, structures, paving, water features, irrigation, lighting. I prefer to use real materials- concrete, stone, metal, wood (instead of faux materials or veneers or plastics). 

It is also in my purview to keep close watch over the schedule and the budget. 

Working with me:

I do all kinds of large and small projects.  On new projects, I relish working alongside clients, architects, engineers and contractors from the beginning of the planning process so that the landscape aspects of the work are integrated into the overall results. That said, much of my work is for clients who need a garden for their existing house or business, which I also enjoy.

I have a deep understanding of construction, and that makes me a designer who understands the realities of building things. Because of that, most architects and contractors find me easy to work with, and we work as a team to solve problems. I generally have very good relationships with my clients, who often become my friends. I'm generous with my time after my work is done, and in that way, I get to see the gardens grow up, which brings me a lot of joy. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this. 

Barkley David Smith