Studio Outside Landscape Architects

This July, our talented Studio Outside interns took on an exciting challenge: reimagining the Santa Fe Trail Artifact Park, a future gateway connecting Dallas' Fair Park and Deep Ellum. From exploring Dallas' "architectural boneyard" to presenting innovative designs to the Friends of the Santa Fe Trail, the week was full of creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Guided by the theme of discovery, the interns crafted a vision where salvaged architectural artifacts breathe new life into a public space, preserving Dallas' history while shaping its future. Head to our blog to see how they turned history into an engaging, interactive landscape! https://ow.ly/jZ0k50U9AqI #StudioOutside #InternWeek2024 #SantaFeTrail #LandscapeDesign #DallasHistory

A huge thank you to Jeff carbo, FASLA for presenting his work at studio outside this morning. We had the pleasure of hearing him share his journey and insights into the unique challenges and beauty of designing landscapes. #LandscapeArchitecture #SustainableDesign #JeffCarbo

Exciting News! Last week marked the grand opening of The Ditch Water Discovery Center in Stephenville, Texas! Located just an hour southwest of Fort Worth, this 3-acre “living classroom” is a groundbreaking hub for education on natural practices that conserve water and enhance the local environment. Key features include a rammed earth wall symbolizing the Trinity Aquifer, native root system displays, and accessible pathways winding through rain gardens, bioswales, and native plantings. Visitors can explore these installations and learn about groundwater recharge, erosion control, and habitat restoration, all while crossing a restored 1900s steel truss bridge to a net-zero classroom. The Ditch showcases how thoughtful landscape design can inspire communities to become stewards of the environment, paving the way for a greener, more resilient future. Fun Fact: The state grass of Texas is the side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)! Design Team: Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Stephenville Chamber of Commerce Lake|Flato Architects fd2s Dunaway Regenerative Environmental Design (Heather Venhaus) ??: John Barker #theditchdiscoverycenter #middletrinitygcd #RibbonCutting #StudioOutside #SustainableDesign #WaterConservation

Congratulations to Outsider Jiewen Hu and her student design team at the University of Pennsylvania for winning a 2024 National ASLA Student Honor Award in Urban Design! Jiewen’s project focuses on harbor-front development issues in Kingston, Jamaica caused by the city’s inadequate stormwater system of gullies that have historically channeled solid waste to the harbor and served more as divisions between territorial boundaries than positive infrastructure. Check out this years Landscape Architecture Magazine Awards issue to see the full project!

The new Frisco Public Library is a striking example of adaptive reuse design, transforming a former rocket manufacturing facility into a dynamic community hub, and Frisco’s first standalone library. Working alongside Gensler Architects, the driving concept is a testament to sustainable design - integrating modern architectural aesthetics with the history and unique ecological context of the site. A key aspect of the project’s design is its connection to the Blackland Prairie, a rare and endangered ecosystem native to North Texas. This remnant prairie landscape is celebrated in the library’s surrounding grounds where a native grassland palette helps highlight species that once thrived in the Blackland Prairie, fostering biodiversity, and creating a natural habitat for local wildlife. This dynamic approach serves as an educational tool, teaching visitors about the region’s ecological heritage and the importance of native ecosystems. The adaptive reuse of the building and the revitalization of the surrounding Blackland Prairie reflect Frisco’s commitment to sustainability, offering a model of how urban development can honor the past and work in harmony with the natural environment. ??: John Barker

Dive into the magic of Texas swimming holes! Head over to our latest blog post to explore the cultural and ecological significance of these natural gems. Whether you cherish lazy summer days or the vibrant community spirit they foster, it's time to ensure these landscapes thrive for future generations. See the full post to learn more. Check out our blog to read the full article. https://ow.ly/g5x650TJcxX #studiooutside #landscapearchitecture #texasswimmingholes #bluehole #glenrose #lockhart

We are excited to announce that Ben Henschen, one of the newest Outsiders to join our team has also won the 2024 Bill Millsap Fellowship! "I want to compare the use of film and sketching as representational techniques by exploring how they influence an audience's perspective of a landscape," Henschen said. Ben will travel to Yosemite Falls in November 2024 to shoot footage of Lawrence Halprin's Yosemite Falls Corridor project for a short film. He is seeking to "emphasize the light and whimsical nature of his sketches through a new media." #BillMillsap #landscapearchitecture #studiooutside #LawrenceHalprin #BillMillsapFellowship #DFWArt #YosemiteFalls #YosemiteFallsCorridor #YosemiteNationalPark #OutdoorExhibits

The Valley House Sculpture Garden, originally designed by the renowned landscape architect Clarence Roy early in his career, sits on 4.5 wooded acres in far North Dallas. For several years, the gallery hosted spring exhibitions of many notable sculptors including Charles Umlauf, Sorrel Etrog, David Cargill, and a one-person show of Henry Moore in 1969. A hidden gem in the DFW metroplex, the garden continues to host sculpture shows, private receptions, and is open to the public six days a week. Since 2005, Tary Arterburn has acted as curator of the garden, advising the Owners on horticultural management, and designing two additions to the garden near the gallery that add outdoor space for receptions and sculpture exhibits. Photography: Arlen Kennedy

Drawing inspiration from the Jekyll and Lutyens era of garden design, this English style garden perfectly complements our client’s Tudor residence in Fort Worth. Native stone paths and a lush, perennial palette frame the central lawn leading to an outdoor entertaining space, swimming pool, and expansive views of downtown Fort Worth. ??: Seth Winkler #EnglishGarden #TudorResidence #FortWorthGardens #GardenDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #landscapedesign #studiooutside #OutdoorLiving #PerennialGarden #JekyllAndLutyens

Three years ago, Rheudasil Park in Flower Mound underwent a major transformation. By prioritizing the importance of the park’s scenic lake, Studio Outside proposed solutions to address potential future flooding issues, while designing a public space with community-centered programming. Biofiltration gardens along the park collect and filter rainwater before entering the lake and help tell the larger story and importance of water along the city’s greenway. Piers, fishing boardwalks, and walking trails adorn the lake’s edge and connect new nature-inspired playgrounds, picnic areas, and an iconic pavilion designed by Munn Harris Architects nestled into the landscape that is perfect for group seating and sunset gazing. Photography: John Barker