Locke School Public Work – Chicago, Illinois Josephine Locke School, located on the northwest side of Chicago, is a large elementary school but one that tries to get the most out of every student. The school has an International Baccalaureate program that encourages students to build core values of discipline, tolerance, and respect that they…
Suburban Retreat Private Garden – Northfield, Illinois After a masterful renovation of the house, this landscape was in need of some serious design attention. An oversized berm on one side of the home made circulation and routine maintenance a hazardous and frustrating dilemma. The beautiful sprawling architecture, existing swimming pool, and mature shade trees, however,…
Cocktail Hour Private Garden – Lake Forest, Illinois After visiting a private neighborhood garden, the owners dreamed of converting their property of Buckthorn, stagnant water, and vast lawn into a sophisticated, park-like garden of their own. The design lays out a series of garden rooms and corridors, initiating movement and exploration between spaces. Stone walkways…
Gold Coast Courtyard Private Garden – Chicago, Illinois Nestled in the historic Gold Coast neighborhood, this rear yard has great potential for outdoor entertaining. A small lower garden provides a private nook perfect for a small water feature and cafe table. The existing wall in this area was raised to provide added seclusion from the…
Small City Projects To illustrate the range of our design work, we wanted to highlight a few smaller projects. All of these properties are located in the city of Chicago with standard sized lots. Working within these tighter parameters is often challenging but can also inspire creative solutions. A tiny project requires special attention to…
Western Springs Home Private Garden – Western Springs, Illinois
Woodland Walled Garden Private Garden – Lake Forest, Illinois Positioned on a corner lot in Lake Forest, the client’s goal was to create a private backyard oasis within the beautiful woodland setting. The design concepts worked to provide intimacy within the expansive yard by separating entertaining areas; this also allowed for the preservation of some…
Evergreen Academy Public Work – Chicago Public School Learning Garden Evergreen Academy developed a program with Openlands to facilitate interactive learning with outdoor classrooms, native plantings, and a vegetable garden. In an effort to promote ownership of this garden, the students were involved from the initial brainstorming sessions through the actual garden install; they planted…
English Manor Private Garden – Winnetka, Illinois After undergoing an intense renovation and rear addition, this English Manor home was transformed into a beautiful showpiece. Located in Winnetka, the master plan for this property involved a close collaboration between Culliton Quinn, the homeowner, architect, and civil engineer. Much of the rear yard sits in the…
Lincoln Park High School Public Work – Chicago Public School Outdoor Classroom Working with the non-profit organization, Openlands, Lincoln Park High School wanted to overhaul their existing amphitheater space that was no longer being utilized to its full potential. The new design incorporates a rain garden and native plantings to provide an educational experience for…
