Listening to Land: Cultural Landscape Research in Contemporary Practice with Thomas Woltz

In collaboration with the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust, and with an introduction by Thomas Lloyd

On Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021, the ICAA was pleased to host landscape architect Thomas L. Woltz for a virtual program filmed at the historic Edgewater estate in Barrytown, New York, in collaboration with CAHPT. As owner and principal of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) Thomas has forged a body of work that integrates the beauty and function of built forms with an understanding of cultural context and ecological processes. In this lecture, Thomas discusses how a research-based design process can reveal and connect contemporary audiences to the underlying stories of the land. He presents the power of narrative in the landscape through case studies from his firm’s portfolio, including the Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York, Centennial Park in Nashville, and the Peabody Essex Museum Garden in Salem, Massachusetts. This lecture will also feature an introduction from ICAA Board Member, Thomas Lloyd.

Thomas Woltz FASLA, CLARB: As owner and principal of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) Woltz has infused narratives of the land into the places where people live, work, and play, deepening connections between people and the natural world and inspiring environmental stewardship. From public parks to models of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture within blighted infrastructure and depleted landscapes, NBW’s work is recognized for revealing powerful cultural stories while pioneering innovative ecological solutions in the face of climate extremes. Projects within NBW’s Conservation Agriculture Studio have yielded tens of thousands of acres of reforested land, reconstructed wetlands, native meadows, and wildlife habitat.

Woltz was educated at the University of Virginia and holds master's degrees in Landscape Architecture and Architecture. He was named Design Innovator of the Year by the Wall Street Journal in 2013 and one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company in 2017.

Thomas Lloyd is the grandson of Bunny Mellon and the president of the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation. Lloyd is a Wealth Advisor for Hemington Wealth Management and lives in Washington, DC.

Sponsors

Presented as part of the Bunny Mellon Curricula at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. The ICAA is very grateful to the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation for its generous support of this program, along with the Curricula's Lead Co-Sponsor Hollander Design Landscape Architects, Film Series Co-Sponsor Janice Parker Landscape Architects, Landscape Prize Co-Sponsor Harrison Design, Continuing Education and Public Programs Co-Sponsor Charlotte Moss, and Garden Symposium Co-Sponsor Kathryn M. and Ronald J. Herman Charitable Foundation.

Lead Annual Public Programs Sponsor: RINCK

Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Dell Mitchell Architects

Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Hyde Park Mouldings

Tags: classicism at home, bunnymellon