Farre+Stevenson Architecture develops landscape and garden design projects for gardens, terraces, courtyards, residential properties, collective spaces and other outdoor environments. The practice works in Rome, throughout Italy and in the United States, integrating site conditions, architecture, planting, hardscape and the ways in which outdoor spaces are intended to be used.
Landscape design is not approached as the simple decoration of an outdoor area with plants. It is the coordinated design of relationships between soil, climate, paths, views, vegetation, water, materials, buildings and human activity.
Each project begins with an understanding of the actual conditions of the site and the client’s requirements. The aim is to create outdoor spaces that are spatially coherent, buildable, appropriate to their climate and capable of developing successfully over time.
Landscape design in Italy and the United States
Farre+Stevenson combines professional experience developed between Rome and Seattle. This international dimension encourages an exchange between different design cultures, climatic conditions, construction practices and ways of inhabiting outdoor space.
In the United States, Patty Stevenson develops residential landscape and garden design projects in the Seattle area through PS Garden Design. Services may be provided through in-person collaboration or remote design, according to the location, scale and requirements of the project.
The American practice brings together spatial planning, planting design, hardscape and outdoor living, with particular attention to the climate of the Pacific Northwest, site-specific plant selection, maintenance requirements and the relationship between garden and home.
Landscape as the design of outdoor space
Landscape architecture and garden design concern the organisation and transformation of open space. Vegetation is an essential component, but it must be coordinated with circulation, use, environmental conditions, built elements and the surrounding architecture.
A project may address:
- the organisation of spaces and functions;
- entrances, paths and circulation;
- seating, gathering and outdoor living areas;
- visual relationships and focal points;
- sun, shade and exposure to wind;
- ground levels, slopes and drainage;
- existing vegetation and new planting;
- paving, edging and exterior materials;
- pergolas, screens and shade structures;
- lighting and evening use;
- the relationship between building, garden and wider setting.
Understanding the site before transforming it
Every project begins with an analysis of the physical, environmental and perceptual conditions of the site. Before a design proposal is developed, orientation, climate, sunlight, prevailing winds, views, topography, existing vegetation and relationships with surrounding buildings are considered.
Depending on the commission, the preliminary investigation may include:
- site survey and photographic documentation;
- analysis of levels, slopes and drainage patterns;
- study of sun and shade conditions;
- identification of existing plant species;
- assessment of elements to be retained, restored or removed;
- analysis of access, circulation and current use;
- review of planning, landscape or heritage constraints;
- study of the relationship between outdoor space, buildings and context.
This process allows the design to respond to the particular characteristics of the site rather than applying a generic solution that could be transferred indiscriminately from one place to another.
Garden design
Garden design involves defining the overall spatial structure, circulation, areas of activity and rest, planting and built elements.
Projects may include:
- gardens for houses and villas;
- front yards and backyards;
- shared residential gardens;
- courtyards and patios;
- gardens associated with hospitality and commercial properties;
- outdoor spaces for social use and recreation;
- the renovation of existing gardens;
- landscape design associated with new buildings or extensions.
The design is calibrated to the client’s requirements, patterns of use, local climate, available budget and the level of maintenance that can realistically be provided after completion.
Terraces, rooftops and urban outdoor spaces
Terraces and rooftop spaces require a specific design approach capable of combining spatial quality, climate protection, safety, structural loading, water management and compatibility with the existing building.
The project may coordinate:
- the distribution of functions and furniture;
- paving and drainage;
- planters and planting systems;
- pergolas, screening and shade;
- exterior lighting and services;
- privacy and protection from overlooking;
- relationships with parapets, façades and roofs;
- planting appropriate to sun, wind and maintenance conditions.
In compact urban spaces, even a limited number of elements must be coordinated carefully, since each decision has a strong effect on the perception and practical use of the whole area.
Planting design
Plants are treated as living materials that shape space and change over time. Species, form, height, colour, density, texture and seasonal variation all contribute to the structure and atmosphere of a garden.
Plant selection may take account of:
- regional climate and local microclimate;
- sun, shade and wind exposure;
- soil or growing-medium conditions;
- water availability and irrigation requirements;
- the mature size and growth habit of each species;
- relationships between roots, paving and buildings;
- seasonal colour and visual interest;
- maintenance requirements;
- compatibility with existing vegetation and the surrounding landscape.
Landscape design is distinct from routine gardening or maintenance services. The project may, however, include planting schedules, maintenance guidance and information to assist contractors and owners in implementing and managing the design correctly.
Hardscape and built landscape elements
Hardscape provides the physical framework within which planting and outdoor activities are organised. Materials and details must respond to use, climate, drainage, durability and the architectural character of the property.
The design may include:
- paths, terraces and paved areas;
- steps, ramps and changes of level;
- retaining and dividing elements;
- edging and raised planting beds;
- decks and platforms;
- pergolas and shade structures;
- screens, fences and gates;
- built-in seating and outdoor furniture;
- water features and focal elements;
- coordination of lighting and exterior services.
Material choices are developed in relation to appearance, weathering, slip resistance, maintenance, availability and compatibility with the building and local context.
Drainage, soil and changes of level
The quality and durability of an outdoor space depend on the correct management of water, soil and topography. These issues should be considered from the beginning of the design rather than treated as secondary technical details.
Depending on the site, the project may consider:
- existing and proposed ground levels;
- surface-water movement;
- permeable and impermeable areas;
- soil conditions and planting depth;
- erosion and stability;
- collection, retention or controlled discharge of rainwater;
- irrigation requirements;
- coordination with specialist civil or structural consultants.
Technical calculations and specialist engineering are commissioned where required by the nature or complexity of the work.
Architecture and landscape as a unified project
One of the practice’s principal objectives is to avoid treating the building and its outdoor areas as unrelated parts of a project. Paths, openings, views, levels, materials and planting should contribute to a coherent spatial system.
Landscape design can:
- extend interior living spaces outdoors;
- create thresholds and transitions;
- improve environmental comfort;
- provide shade and climate protection;
- increase privacy;
- define entrances and circulation;
- frame views and conceal unwanted elements;
- create new relationships between the building and its surroundings.
This integrated approach is particularly important when Farre+Stevenson coordinates architecture, interior design and landscape design within the same commission.
Residential outdoor living
For residential properties, outdoor space can become an extension of everyday domestic life. The design is developed around the activities the client wishes to accommodate and the degree of privacy, flexibility and maintenance required.
Projects may include:
- outdoor dining and seating areas;
- spaces for relaxation and family life;
- play areas;
- gardens for entertaining;
- pool surroundings;
- kitchen gardens and productive planting;
- front gardens and entrance sequences;
- screening from neighbouring properties;
- phased improvements to existing gardens.
Commercial, hospitality and collective landscapes
Landscape projects may also serve commercial, hospitality, educational and collective uses.
The work may concern:
- restaurants and hospitality venues;
- workplaces and professional buildings;
- schools, libraries and cultural facilities;
- shared residential spaces;
- public or semi-public courtyards;
- entrance areas and circulation spaces;
- gardens associated with museums or exhibitions;
- outdoor spaces intended for gathering, play or rest.
The design is developed in relation to the number and type of users, accessibility, safety, intensity of use and the organisation responsible for future management.
Climate-responsive and sustainable design
The environmental quality of an outdoor space depends on its ability to respond to climate and to reduce unnecessary consumption and maintenance.
A project may therefore consider:
- retaining and enhancing existing vegetation;
- selecting species suited to local conditions;
- reducing unnecessary impermeable surfaces;
- improving summer shade;
- limiting heat accumulation in paved areas;
- managing and slowing stormwater runoff;
- organising irrigation efficiently;
- reducing excessive maintenance requirements;
- supporting appropriate plant diversity and habitat value.
Sustainability is addressed as part of the overall spatial and technical design rather than as the simple addition of green features.
Landscape design in Rome and Italy
In Rome, outdoor-space design may involve very different contexts: historic gardens, established courtyards, urban terraces, archaeological settings, twentieth-century buildings, residential neighbourhoods and properties subject to planning, landscape or heritage protection.
The practice integrates design with an assessment of the applicable planning and heritage framework, identifying where approvals, specialist studies or coordination with public authorities may be required.
For projects elsewhere in Italy, the design is developed in relation to the particular territorial, climatic, construction and regulatory conditions of the site.
Landscape design in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
The Seattle area presents specific climatic and environmental conditions, including substantial seasonal rainfall, varied topography, established tree cover and a strong relationship between residential life and the surrounding landscape.
Through PS Garden Design, Patty Stevenson develops site-specific garden and residential landscape proposals that combine planting, hardscape and outdoor living with an understanding of the character of the Pacific Northwest.
Projects may be developed through on-site services in the Seattle area or through virtual design for suitable properties in other locations.
From initial consultation to detailed design
Depending on the size and complexity of the commission, services may include:
- initial consultation and definition of requirements;
- site survey and documentation;
- site analysis and design strategy;
- concept design and spatial organisation;
- preliminary and developed design;
- planting and material selection;
- hardscape plans and details;
- coordination with lighting, irrigation and other technical systems;
- three-dimensional models and visualisations;
- plant schedules and material schedules;
- cost information and contractor documentation;
- assistance during implementation.
The precise scope is agreed according to the location, characteristics of the site and level of detail required.
Drawings and design information
The project may be communicated through a coordinated set of drawings and visual material, including:
- site plans and landscape layouts;
- plans showing paths, planting and hardscape;
- sections and level studies;
- functional and circulation diagrams;
- planting plans and plant schedules;
- material and construction details;
- three-dimensional models;
- renderings and visualisations;
- phasing and implementation information;
- documents for contractors and suppliers.
Representation supports the design process and helps clients and contractors understand the spatial, environmental and construction relationships within the project.
Designing for future use and maintenance
The quality of a garden does not depend only on its appearance at completion. It must be capable of maturing successfully and remaining compatible with the resources available for maintenance.
Before the design is finalised, the following may be considered:
- users and patterns of use;
- time and resources available for maintenance;
- water availability;
- growth rates and mature plant sizes;
- seasonal change;
- durability and weathering of materials;
- possible phases of implementation;
- the client’s budget and long-term priorities.
Farre+Stevenson Architecture develops landscape and garden design projects in Rome, throughout Italy and in the United States, combining architecture, planting, hardscape and outdoor living within site-specific and buildable proposals.