Rooftop Garden Design: Tips for Creating Your Own
When spring is in the air your underutilized real estate atop a garage suddenly looks like a great place for a rooftop garden. Rooftop terraces can be so much – a stage set for a chic soirée, a private sanctuary, a little nest in which children play, a place to nurture herbs, vegetables, or even bees. They even have the benefit of being protected from deer, rabbits and rodents so… Read More >
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Breaks Ground
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden broke ground on their $11.6 million improvement plan this month. Iowa’s state capitol has a number of citizens committed to public horticulture and we’ve been fortunate enough to work with them on some major greening efforts, like the World Food Prize garden and the medians of Fleur Drive, which connect people from the airport to downtown. Soon, however, the city will have a revitalized botanical garden. Renovations… Read More >
Outdoor Living Trends 2013: Design Tips & Inspiration
The ASLA asked landscape architects across the country to identify the top outdoor living trends of 2013—and published the survey results on their blog earlier this month. Outdoor living spaces, defined as entertainment areas and kitchens took their place at the top of the list. Gardens and landscaped spaces took a very close second—all followed by pools, water elements, patios and decks. Fire places, grills, dining areas and lighting were… Read More >
World Food Prize Hall & Garden Achieve LEED Platinum
In the good news category: The World Food Prize announced this week that the Hall of Laureates and Garden has received LEED Platinum certification. The platinum rating is the highest possible certification for energy efficiency and conservation. We’ve posted a few times about the development of the garden and highlighted photos from different seasons. Today we celebrate the announcement by showing a few of the garden in winter. Soon, we’ll have… Read More >
Flowers in February
February is the worst. No, I take that back. February in Chicago, now that’s the worst. It’s cold. The sparkle of the holidays has worn off. It’s cold. The fluffy, white snow that once made our city magical has turned into a boot-ruining, cold, wet, black slush. And the worst part? The end of winter is nowhere in sight. Did I mention it’s cold? Last week, right when I decided I couldn’t bear… Read More >
Midwest Garden Design & Challenges
No one can argue with the radiance of a Midwest garden in the spring and summer—but as you know winter is the truest test. When Hoerr Schaudt designs for this region, we always think of winter first—creating the structure, or the “bones” for the garden’s framework. The landscape for this Tudor-style house was originally designed by Jens Jensen in 1929. Though the clients loved the naturalistic views out to the… Read More >
Luxe Magazine: Beyond the Cover
This month’s Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine tells the story of how a century-old home in Lake Forest, IL was carefully restored to its original glory. Hoerr Schaudt had the pleasure of collaborating with Rugo/Raff Architects, Athalie Derse Interior Design and the Heidbreder Building Group who, along with the client, all shared a very obvious passion for this project. We especially thank Mariani, the landscape maintenance company that installed the garden… Read More >
Hoerr Schaudt is Hiring!
We are an exceptional team of talented professionals working on complex, exciting, and rewarding projects. We collaborate with the best architecture firms in the country and offer the opportunity to develop skills in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that prioritizes design excellence and client service. Our light-filled studio is located on the top floor of a reclaimed industrial building in the heart of Chicago’s thriving west loop neighborhood. Check out our… Read More >
A Hoerr Schaudt Holiday
This is my first holiday season as a member of the Hoerr Schaudt team. As excited as I was on my first day, I’ll never forget how intimidated I was to work with a group of designers. Spring, summer and autumn have passed and I can tell you that the folks in our office are as stylish, smart and cool as I thought they were going to be. (Not to… Read More >
Landscape Design at SandRidge Energy Commons
Last month, Architectural Record wrote briefly about the SandRidge Energy Commons project in Oklahoma City, the new corporate headquarters of an oil and natural gas company, in its move downtown, is creating a program not commonly sought – extending and enhancing the public realm by weaving their buildings and landscapes into the urban fabric. This month, our very own Michael Skowlund gave a talk and tour to designers in Oklahoma… Read More >
Gather Around the Table – Alfresco Dining Spaces
In honor of the Thanksgiving tradition of gathering around a generous table, I thought I post some (zero calorie!) eye candy of our favorite outdoor rooms designed for alfresco dining. You can let your imagination fill the table with your favorite Thanksgiving treats! At Hoerr Schaudt we give thanks for our wonderful clients, our dedicated and talented staff and the opportunity to do what we love best – make connections… Read More >
Chicago Landscapes in Autumn
Chicago’s civic landscapes attract people from all over the country. One of our landscape architects was out and about recently and took photos of how autumn was expressed this year within a few of the city’s wonderful designed landscapes. As this beautiful season comes to an end and our beloved (ha!) winter approaches, I wanted to share a few of my favorites:
Urban Parkway: Tips & Considerations
We often point out the value of planting and maintaining the city-owned parkways in front of their homes when clients redesign their residential landscape. Aside from the obvious improvement to the curb appeal of your property, it extends the pleasure of your garden space as you look out the window and gives a little something back to your neighborhood as well. Everyone likes an ‘ooh, aaah.’ There are practical… Read More >
We Got the Beat!
We thought we would mix it up this week–the Hoerr Schaudt office came up with a playlist of some of our favorite tunes. Can you spot the theme? Pretend you are sitting here while you listen and enjoy! Peter Gabriel – Digging in the Dirt Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees Tom Petty – Wildflowers Sting – Fields Of Gold Talking Heads – [Nothing But] Flowers Depeche Mode – The… Read More >
Polling all Kids!: Landscape for Play
This week one of our design teams had an opportunity to brainstorm about what makes a really great play space. We design many play areas in private gardens – ranging from sport courts to open lawn – but this was for a public space geared toward engaging kids with natural elements. Not a playground, but spaces that inspire imaginative play that are connected to nature. We looked at a lot… Read More >