Designing by Listening

Soon after beginning my studies in landscape architecture, one of my new professors boldly claimed, “Designing a pool and garden is every landscape architect’s dream.” At the time, I rolled my eyes. Now, 25 years later, I must admit that it’s really fun.

I find the technical rigor and the complexity of coordinating with multiple craftspeople tremendously satisfying and challenging. But what I enjoy most are the discussions with my clients about how they want to use their pool. These conversations are uniquely dreamy and personal—largely free from ingrained behaviors or existing conditions, and therefore able to focus more precisely on their aspirations.

Designing a new kitchen, for example, while transformative for a home, is ultimately defined by existing habits and features—a sink here, more counter space, better lighting. But for most of my clients, a new pool is a first pool. Their points of reference aren’t specifically measurable, like wider or deeper, but more aspirational—connected to formative memories of swimming with their grandparents, at a neighbor’s house, or on a romantic vacation.

Our design meetings, then, range back and forth between specific details—dimensions and finishes—and shared memories: learning how to swim, our best birthday parties, and the deep conversations we’ve had with friends in a hot tub.

These memories and dreams become the design drivers, and the new pool becomes both a catalyst and a container for new memories.

We’ll be sharing the completed garden and pool soon—follow along to see how these conversations took shape.