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DIRTWORKS RECEIVES SILVER AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN (IAUD) FOR THE EVANS RESTORATIVE GARDEN
New York, NY -- January 9, 2015 -- Dirtworks, PC, was awarded the Silver Award from the 2014
International Association for Universal Design (IAUD) for the Evans Restorative Garden in
Cleveland, Ohio. Dirtworks, based in New York, is the only American recipient of this prestigious
international award; the announcement was made at the IAUD International Conference in Tokyo in
November, 2014.
David Kamp, principal at Dirtworks, notes that a
few overarching ideas inform this garden’s design,
one of which is that health, wellness and illness
are a single continuum. “Some of us have severe
restrictions (like a wheelchair-bound person with
cerebral palsy), others minor restrictions (like a
baby stroller), temporary problems (like a broken
foot) or progressive decline (as with Alzheimer’s
disease or aging). When we design accessible
spaces we are designing not just for the disabled,
we are designing for everyone, including
ourselves.” The Elizabeth and Nona Evans
Restorative Garden reflects the goal of the Board
of Directors, staff and donors that this space within
the larger gardens be “beautiful, natural, lush,
green; a setting that offers a range of
opportunities, choices and experiences; a setting engaging and enriching for all who visit.” In
essence, the garden gives visitors opportunities and choices to experience nature in their own way,
at their own pace, and on their own terms.
Because the garden is located within a public garden where visitors are free to stroll, the need for
privacy was an important consideration. Dirtworks achieved a sensitive, responsive design that
considered the beauty of the garden, issues of privacy and security (both real and perceived), the
physical and psychological needs of various visitor groups, the horticultural therapy program
requirements, the maintenance and protection of existing plant material, plant acquisitions and site
conditions. Path materials, for example, were considered for their durability, aesthetic quality, glare,
and accessibility, balancing the need for slip resistance with degree of texture to minimize fatigue.
Within the 12,000 square-feet allocated to the Evans Restorative Garden, Kamp and the Dirtworks
design team created three distinct spaces: a simple, elegant Contemplative Garden including a
wheelchair-accessible lawn, reflecting pool and cascading water feature which masks nearby traffic
noises; a Demonstration/Exploration Garden, defined by a high stone wall with carefully selected
stones, plants and water features that offer a variety of opportunities for engagement, encourage
exercise and develop motor skills; and a Horticultural Therapy Garden, designed as a sunny, open,
colorful place where sensory stimulation is heightened as visitors, some with severe disabilities,
work with and enjoy carefully selected plants and crafts.
While clients often participate in design decisions, Mr. Kamp explains that this collaboration was
unusually intense. “At virtually every point in the process we worked with the garden’s horticultural
therapist, who was involved at every stage and in every detail. For example: together we found that
3” is an optimal handrail width for individuals who have difficulty in grasping, such as with arthritis.
Wider than most, the custom wooden rail has a curve that the hand can naturally grasp. Or that we
tested the placement of every stone in the stone wall to see where the mica glittered, considering
sun angles vis-à-vis different eye heights. I called it ‘extreme collaboration’”.
The judges, who come from Japan, the U.S., Spain and the UK, felt that “… these beautiful, calm
and serene gardens feature many design-for-all elements and set an example in the thoughtful
integration of the needs of specific groups within a universally appealing setting.”
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About Dirtworks, PC
Dirtworks, PC (www.dirtworks.us) is an internationally recognized and award-winning landscape architecture
firm. Its designs enhance the restorative quality of the natural environment. The firm, founded in 1995 by David
Kamp, FASLA, LF, NA, provides clients with the creativity and technical knowledge essential to project design
and site planning. Dirtworks, PC provides a full range of professional services with a staff of technically trained
and design-oriented landscape architects.
About the International Association for Universal Design (IAUD)
The International Association for Universal Design (http://www.iaud.net) conducts activities aimed at achieving
its basic objective: “To contribute to the healthy development of society, and improve the welfare of humanity
as a whole, through further disseminating and actualizing of Universal Design (UD).” Through the products and
services, we promote the establishment of the foundations of a society in which more people will feel
comfortable to live.
Media Contact:
Stacey Tepper
914.806.2684
[email protected]