Abstract

Thomas Woltz, principal and owner of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW), describes the fundamental role of historical and ecological research in the firm’s design process. As Woltz illustrates in four case studies of urban park projects—Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee; Powell Avenue Steam Plant Plaza in Birmingham, Alabama; Memorial Park in Houston, Texas; and Hudson Yards, New York—the firm considers every site a cultural landscape. Through historical research and scientific analysis, NBW incorporates significant aspects of each site’s past into the park plan. Traces of early settlements, the remains of industrial activities, and geological formations become allusions to the unique history of each landscape. The “ecology to culture continuum” is a way of thinking about design that exemplifies NBW’s effort to engage people more closely with the landscape. This sense of connection with the past and concern for conserving the environment for the future are essential qualities of NBW’s cultural landscapes.

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