California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA Landscape Architecture Department (805) Fax (805)

Transcription

1 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA Landscape Architecture Department (805) Fax (805) March 1, 2011 Jay Claiborne Secretary Landmarks Preservation Commission 2120 Milvia Street Berkeley, CA Re: NOD for McDuffie Estate Dear Mr. Claiborne, Cora Palmer sent me an early draft of the original landmark nomination for the McDuffie Estate. Yesterday I had the opportunity to review the revised Notice of Decision by the Landmark Preservation Commission. As a landscape historian and expert in the work of the Olmsted Brothers, your report provides a more comprehensive evaluation of the McDuffie landscape and one that should preserve this garden for the city of Berkeley. I completely support your analysis both of the hardscape and softscape elements in the landscape. The Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm always tried to nestle the architecture into the site. Maintaining the wooded character along with mature plantings (including the wisteria, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and trees) will continue the original design intent. Maintaining the hardscape features will provide an example of the firm s regional approach in materials and connection to the site. Thank you for your diligence in revisiting the application to maintain this treasure for the future. Longtime subsequent owners of the McDuffie Estate provided stewardship of the site for over 50 years; this landmarking will ensure that that stewardship continues. Sincerely, Christy Edstrom O Hara Assistant Professor Attachment: CV

2 S A N M A R C O S R O A D. A T A S C A D E R O, C A L I F O R N I A P H O N E ( ) E - M A I L C O H A R C A L P O L Y. E D U CHRISTINE EDSTROM O HARA EDUCATION University of Washington Seattle, Washington Landscape Architecture, MLA Landscape History with a Certificate in Preservation Planning Masters Title: Balboa Park and Palos Verdes Estates: A Critical Evaluation of the Olmsted Brothers Western Design Model California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California Landscape Architecture, MLA Stanford University Stanford, California English and Art History (Self-designed Major), BA TEACHING EXPERIENCE California Polytechnic State University Landscape Architecture Department San Luis Obispo, California LA110 Graphic Communication for Landscape Architects F2003, F2004, F2005 LA111 Three Dimensional Graphics for Landscape Architects W2004, W2005, W2006 LA130 Landscape Interpretation W2009, W2010, W2011 LA170 Design Communication and Digital Technology S2006 LA202 Design Fundamentals 1 S2006, F2008, F2009, F2010 LA204 Design Fundamentals 3 S2009 LA251 Fundamentals of Design and Planning in Landscape Architecture F2003, F2004, F2005 LA252 Fundamentals of Site Planning and Design W2004, W2006 LA253 Applied Design and Planning Fundamentals S2004, S2005 LA320 Design Theory for Landscape Architects F2005

3 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 2 LA330 Cultural Landscapes: People, Places and Ethical Decisions F2008, F2009 LA349 Advanced Planting Design S2005, S2006, S2011 LA352 Design for Landscape Architects W2005 LA400 EFT Prep Course F2009 LA404 Cultural Environments Design Focus Studio W2009, S2011 LA405 Project Design/Implementation Design Focus Studio W2010, W2011 LA433 Cultural Environments (ILC) F2008, F2009 LA436 Traditional and Digital Media (ILC) F2010 LA483 Extended Fieldtrip (Spain and France) S2010 Student Advisor University of Washington Landscape Architecture Department Seattle, Washington LA498 History of Public Art and Space, TA W2002

4 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 3 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE California Polytechnic State University September , 2008 to Present S A N L U I S O B I S P O, C A L I F O R N I A Assistant Professor. Teaching and research focuses on landscape design, history and theory; historic preservation and restoration of cultural landscapes; California regionalism. Scholarship focuses on the Olmsted Brothers and their work and influence in California. m + o landscape architecture September 2008 to Present S A N L U I S O B I S P O, C A L I F O R N I A Landscape Designer. This practice unites its two principals, Melanie Mills and myself, in a unique fusion of advanced sustainable technology, historic preservation, and community and regional place making. The practice focuses on all aspects of landscape design emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach to create inspiring outdoor spaces that are expressive of their history, regional character and ecological function. Recent work includes Stewart, McGuiness, and Williamson Residences. Christine Edstrom O Hara June 1995 to September 2008 A T A S C A D E R O, C A L I F O R N I A Landscape Designer. Award-winning design practice includes all aspects of design and project implementation with over 400 residential and commercial completed projects. Design and construction methods require collaboration with builder, architect, landscape contractor and all sub-contractors on projects. Christine Edstrom O Hara September 1995 to Present A T A S C A D E R O, C A L I F O R N I A Landscape Historian. Consultant on the restoration and preservation of historic landscapes. Historical research and interpretation required in both writing and designing in preservation planning. Expert on the application of Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Landscapes. Sample projects include Gas Works Park, Rancho los Alamitos, Mountain View Cemetery, Malaga Cove Park, Righetti House, Hollywood Bungalow Courts, and Dana Adobe. Madrone Landscapes January 2007 to August 2008 A T A S C A D E R O, C A L F I O R N I A Landscape Designer. Design-build firm responsibilities included planting, hardscape, lighting, irrigation and drainage design. Estimation and budgeting, take-offs, as-builts, coordination of all sub-contractors as well as project oversight included in scope of work.

5 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 4 CONFERENCE AND INVITED LECTURES Invited lecture for South Bay Native Plant Society. Rancho Palos Verdes. California Native Plants in Landscape Architecture: An Historical Perspective of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. August 2010 Invited lecture for Sustainable Workshop Series. San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. Contemporary Design + Sustainable Practice. June 7 and 14, 2010 Conference paper, CELA (Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture), Maastrict, the Netherlands. Teaching Scenarios of New Normals: Grounding Innovative Landscape Architectural Design in Futures Studies. May 2010 Conference paper and panel discussion, CELA, Maastrict, the Netherlands. Integrated Learning Courses (ILCS): Underscoring Art and Science through Unique Course Design in an Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Program. May 2010 Invited lecture for Lawn to Landscape Workshop: A Step by-step Guide to Converting your Lawn to a Law Water Use Mediterranean Landscape. Paso Robles. Conceptualizing and Planning your Conversion Area. January 2010 Invited lecture for Autumn Garden Festival, Atascadero. Successfully Combining Native and Ornamental Plants in the Landscape October 2009 Invited lecture at Dana Adobe. Nipomo. Tales of the Historical Landscape of the Dana Adobe. September 2009 Invited lecture for In the Nature of the Place Native Plants and Mediterranean Gardens conference, Rancho los Alamitos, Long Beach. Living in Balance: Blending Native and Ornamental Plants. June 2009 Conference lecture for 12 th CSU Regional Symposium on University Teaching, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Engaging Active Learning through Wiki Technology: 2 Case Studies. May 2009 Conference and opening lecture for Park Pride 8 th Annual Parks and Greenspace Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. Balboa Park, San Diego 1915: The Olmsted Brothers Ecological Approach in Developing a new Park Typology. March 2009 Garden tour for North County (Sustainable) Garden Tour, Atascadero. Myracle-Robinson Residence. October 2008 Invited lecture and garden tour for Mediterranean Garden Society, Arroyo Grande. Regionalism and the Sonnabend Residence. October 2008 Invited lectures for Design Workshop, Atascadero. Construction. May July 2008 Sustainable Landscape Design and Lecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Modernism in the 21 st Century. March 2008 Panel discussion at Stanford University, Stanford. Technology and its application to Landscape Architecture. October 2007

6 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 5 Invited lecture at Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles. Creative Design Process. July 2007 Conference lecture at California Preservation Foundation Annual Conference, Hollywood. Mountain View Cemetery: Calls for Regionalism by the Olmsted Firm May 2007 Invited lecture and Design Workshop at Atascadero Mutual Water Company. Sustainable Landscape Practice. May 2007 Invited lecture to Diggers Garden Club, Pasadena. Exploring the Olmsted Brothers Legacy in Southern California January 2007 Invited lecture to Multi-flora Garden Club, Paso Robles. Planting Design on the Central Coast. November 2006 Conference Paper and Session Chair, Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. California Architecture and Landscape Architecture: the Olmsted Brothers, Charles Cheney and Myron Hunt s regional response in Palos Verdes Estates. January 2006 Invited Lecture at Rancho los Alamitos, Long Beach. Exploring the Olmsted Brothers Legacy in Southern California. July 2005 Invited lecture to Mediterranean Garden Society, San Luis Obispo. Planting Design and the Creative Design Process. August 2005 Conference Paper, Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Sustainable Urban Design in the 1930 LA River Plan: A Paradigm of Balancing Los Angeles Ecology and Human Behavior. Conference Paper, National Association of Olmsted Parks. The Panama-California Exposition (1915): A Critical Evaluation of the Olmsted Brothers Western Design Model.

7 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 6 PUBLICATIONS The Panama-California Exposition, San Diego, 1915: the Olmsted Brothers Ecological Park Typology : The Journal for the Society of Architectural Historians, (7), 1, (March 2011), Teaching Scenarios of New Normals: Grounding Innovative Landscape Architectural Design in Futures Studies. CELA Conference Proceedings, May 2010 Integrated Learning Courses (ILCS): Underscoring Art and Science through Unique Course Design in an Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Program. CELA Conference Proceedings, May 2010 Engaging Active Learning through Wiki Technology: 2 Case Studies. Digital Commons@Cal Poly, June 2009 Courtland Paul : Pioneers of Landscape Architecture, ed. Charles Birnbaum. Publication of essay by Univ. of Virginia Press, 2008 National Register Nomination. Gas Works Park, Seattle, Washington. A seminal industrial design by landscape architect Richard Haag, credited with changing land reclamation and industrial preservation attitudes and techniques at both a national and international level, co-written April 2002 City of Seattle Landmark Nomination. Camp Long, West Seattle, Washington. A WPA project nominated as a cultural landscape following National Park Service criteria, co-written June 2001 Starting at the Source: Stormwater Detention Strategies for Homeowners : cowritten, published by Seattle Public Utilities, February 2001 Book Review: Eden: California Garden and Landscape History Society Journal, December 1997, Vol. 1, No. 5 Leimert Park Recognized as Historic Landmark : Los Angeles Conservancy News, May 1996 ADA Compliance on Historic Structures and Properties : State Office of Historic Preservation, 1996.

8 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 7 PROFESSIONAL HONORS/FELLOWSHIP/GRANT Council for Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) reviewer, 2009, 2010 Landscape Design Commendations, 2010 for Tolosa Winery, San Luis Obispo: Garden Clubs, Inc. Preservation Award for Hollywood Bungalow Courts, Los Angeles, 2010: Large Rehabilitation Category, California Preservation Foundation. Preservation Award for Hollywood Bungalow Courts, Los Angeles, 2010: Residential Multi- Family Project: Los Angeles Conservancy Grant for Course Design with Technology in Mind, : Center for Teaching and Learning, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Obispo Beautification Award, 2006 for Tolosa Winery, San Luis Obispo Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History, 2002: Landscape Architecture Foundation and Garden Club of America 2002 National Student ASLA Award: University of Washington Tau Sigma Delta, National Academic Honor Society: Univ. of Washington Outstanding Achievement, Small Residential, 1998, 2000 and 2001 for Christy O Hara Garden Designs: California Landscape Contractors Association, Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley Certificate of Honor, for Starting at the Source : Outstanding Team Achievement in Publication/Communication. Washington Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects The 2001 Group Project Award, for Starting at the Source : University of Washington, The College of Architecture and Urban Planning PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Society of Landscape Architects California Garden and Landscape History Society, Board Member, Treasurer National Association for Olmsted Parks, Board Member Society of Architectural Historians, Landscape History chapter National Trust Member

9 Christine Edstrom O Hara, page 8 SERVICE College Building technology/materials Demo Lab Work Group 2008 Department Sigma Lambda Alpha Advisor 2008, 2009 MLA Prospectus 2008 Curriculum Advisor 2009, 2010 Curriculum Committee 2009 University Status of Women Committee 2009 Community North County (Sustainable) Garden Tour Board Dana Adobe Land Management Committee & Academic Advisory Board National Association of Olmsted Parks, Board Member 2010 Plant Communities Committee for SLO Botanical Garden California Garden and Landscape History Society, Board Member 2010