by Bryan Hanes
[The two CityView condo associations in 2014 reviewed competing proposals and selected the team of Bittenbender Construction and Studio Bryan Hanes to design and upgrade our “backyard.” Mr. Hanes and associate Anthony Imbiscuso met with Winifred Lutz, the sculptor who designed the original garden art. We asked Mr. Hanes to comment on how the new backyard design relates to Ms. Lutz’s art.]
Backyard column. Photo by Sonja Eveslage.
Early in the design process, Anthony and I met with Winifred onsite to discuss each of our projects and their relationship to one another. Winifred’s piece is very connected to the region, employing native stone and plant material to connect it to its place. As landscape architects, we are particularly sympathetic to this.
Water sign. Photo by Sonja Eveslage.
The biggest challenge in CityView’s backyard project is finding an appropriate balance between the art and the new, active landscape. We wanted to find ways for people to be engaged in the new landscape, while we remained deferential to the art and provided greater opportunity to experience it. In the new garden, Winifred’s stone-paved arcs reach out and connect to the lower-level lawn and become intentional pathways to access the garden and the pool terrace.
As we tend to do, we also employed the use of native stone and plant material, but we were careful to do it in a way that connected the space while keeping it distinct from the artwork. At the end of the day, the new garden and lawn are conceptually connected to Winifred’s work, but respectful of it and its space. I hope that the two pieces work well together.
Backyard stone. Photo by Sonja Evelage.
Winifred Lutz’s history-as-art still graces CityView’s backyard