Gary Hilderbrand, a graduate of ESF and Harvard, grew up in the mid-Hudson valley during a time when pollution was high.(Figure 1.) He was inspired to become a landscape architect because he cared about the environment and wanted to be able to make a change. He was interested in ESF because of the curriculum offered, with classes such as Botany and earth sciences, history, the arts and architecture, political culture and making. Hilderbrand went to SUNY-ESF for his undergraduate bachelor's degree and Harvard school of design for his masters. In an email received from him he said, "I was encouraged to go to graduate school at Harvard by my teachers, Robert Reimann and Richard Hawks. It was the only place I considered," making it clear there was no other place he wanted to go. After graduating from Harvard he has become very successful, he became a professor at Harvard in 1990 and is partners in a firm. Hilderbrand has written three books, such as Making a Landscape of Continuity: The Practice of Innocenti & Webel, written multiple essays, produced/coproduce three monographs, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architecture. He has also been feature in many magazines such as LAM, Harvard Design Magazine, Land Forum, and many more. Hilderbrad is very dedicated to his work and mentioned that he does not have much time for outside activity, but everything he does has some factor on his work.
Gary Hilderbrand is partners with Douglas Reed and together they run Reed Hilderbrand LLC (figure.) Reed Hilderbrand firm was started in 1993. Hilderbrand and Reed were inspired by many, but specifically, Dan Kiley mainly because of his use of order and plants. Kiley also connected people through the use of elevation and water features. Connection is very important to the Reed Hilderbrand firm; this is why both men say Kiley inspired them. Landscape influences how people interact and work, so with connection there is a better chance of unity. Hilderbrand also mention in an interview with William S. Saunders in LAM, that he is inspired by many other people as well. In the interview Hilderbrand mentioned Kongjian Yu for his ideas on how designers need to remember how their works effect the environment. He also mentioned the late partners Dieter Kienast and Gunter Vogt were admired. They work to make sure every project is different, but focus on making sure people know where they are and understand the landscape they are in. Reed Hilderbrand believes they should revisit their sites as often as possible, because the site can change in months. It is important to allow the environment do its own thing, but also manage it to keep the design that was done. Hilderbrand said in his interview with Sanders, "we don’t just unleash nature and let it organize itself." On their website the quote that sticks out most is, "our work aligns daily life with the visible phenomena and the invisible systems of nature. We give shape to land and the city and in doing so we shape lives, build communities, reinvent institutions, and enrich urban neighborhoods. We see sites for what they are and what they might become. We create landscapes of cultural consequence." They are focused on making sure everyone experiences the landscape in a positive way. When asked, Hilderbrand said he has many site he considers his favorites. He mentioned a few such as the Long Dock Park, Beck House, the Clark, AA Leventrett Shrub & Vine Collection, and Old Quarry. Each site is different in its own way, but all have that part of nature feel.
Long Dock Park is one of Hilderbrand's favorite places he has worked on. It is in Beacon, New York which is in the Hudson Valley. I think this work is one of his favorites because it is so close to home. He was able to reconstruct a site that he had some sort of connection to. Long Dock Park was originally a brownfield, with very little use and a nuisance to the area. Hilderbrand was the lead architect on this project. He worked with two other people from his firm. They designed the park to rehabilitate the wetlands and meadows and allow the community to put the area to better use. I personally believe this site was very interesting. Reconstruction of brownfields is a widely known idea in this time, but they did not just work to make the place healthier, they also worked to help the wildlife and community. Much of the land used is covered in grassland. They left the land to the environment and it does not need much maintenance, because it is for the wildlife. People can go there to kayak, picnic, take a stroll, or do activities at the visitor center. (Figure 3-5)
Another design Hilderbrand mentioned was Clark Art Institute. This place was a completely different design from Long Dock Park. For starters, it was not an area that needed to be revitalized like the brownfield. Instead this project was designing a campus and incorporating art into the environment. This project is interesting because of the use of visual elements in the design. There are many water features that were involved in this design and they intrigue the human eye. In the design plan on Reed Hilderbrand website, it is also shown that this design was sustainable in some ways as well. They used the water features to control storm water run-off. There are many trails and walk ways to be used, and over all this project really shows how the firm likes to have people and the environment connected.(Figure 6-8)
Last, but not least, Hilderbrand mentioned the Old Quarry as another of his favorites. The project was at an old quarry that has waterfront property. When designing the area, the architect of the home wanted a specific design, but allowed Reed Hilderbrand to put their twist on it. Almost all the medium used in the project was original rock from the quarry. They took the rocks and designed them in different patterns for the yard and pathways. Much of the masonry was done on site and there was a close relationship with the contractor and landscape architects. In the pictures I think everything went together really well. The idea of using what was already there is a great concept because they were not bringing anything invasive in and were not using rocks from another quarry. Also this helps the landowner have an easier time taking care of the space because it is more rock and less plant growth. I enjoyed this site because of the design and the artistic value of the overall place. (Figure 9-11)
To someone who is studying to become a landscape architect, Gary Hilderbrand is a great person to research. He and his firm help show how important it is to get people involved with the environment. In the email sent to Gary I asked him what advice he would give to a student going into the BLA major and he said, "Seek out the teachers who are dedicated to design. Those who care about building, and plants, and design expression. Attach yourself to them. Design is an acquired point of view, and one that can be a lifelong pursuit. It never stops rewarding." Gary Hilderbrand is a very educated man, but he appreciates where he came from and all that he had learned throughout his life.
Work Cited
"Profile - Reed Hilderbrand." Profile - Reed Hilderbrand. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Gary Hilderbrand - People - Reed Hilderbrand." Reed Hilderbrand. Reed Hilderbrand LLC. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.reedhilderbrand.com/people/gary_hilderbrand>.
"Gary Hilderbrand, FASLA." Asla.org. ASLA. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Saunders, William. "THE INVENTIONS OF REED HILDERBRAND." Landscape Architecture Magazine. LAM, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
"Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park." Scenic Hudson. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
"Reordering Old Quarry Guilford, CT." Asla.org. ASLA. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
Mosher, Jake. "Final Essay Reed Hilderbrand." Fall 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
Gary Hilderbrand is partners with Douglas Reed and together they run Reed Hilderbrand LLC (figure.) Reed Hilderbrand firm was started in 1993. Hilderbrand and Reed were inspired by many, but specifically, Dan Kiley mainly because of his use of order and plants. Kiley also connected people through the use of elevation and water features. Connection is very important to the Reed Hilderbrand firm; this is why both men say Kiley inspired them. Landscape influences how people interact and work, so with connection there is a better chance of unity. Hilderbrand also mention in an interview with William S. Saunders in LAM, that he is inspired by many other people as well. In the interview Hilderbrand mentioned Kongjian Yu for his ideas on how designers need to remember how their works effect the environment. He also mentioned the late partners Dieter Kienast and Gunter Vogt were admired. They work to make sure every project is different, but focus on making sure people know where they are and understand the landscape they are in. Reed Hilderbrand believes they should revisit their sites as often as possible, because the site can change in months. It is important to allow the environment do its own thing, but also manage it to keep the design that was done. Hilderbrand said in his interview with Sanders, "we don’t just unleash nature and let it organize itself." On their website the quote that sticks out most is, "our work aligns daily life with the visible phenomena and the invisible systems of nature. We give shape to land and the city and in doing so we shape lives, build communities, reinvent institutions, and enrich urban neighborhoods. We see sites for what they are and what they might become. We create landscapes of cultural consequence." They are focused on making sure everyone experiences the landscape in a positive way. When asked, Hilderbrand said he has many site he considers his favorites. He mentioned a few such as the Long Dock Park, Beck House, the Clark, AA Leventrett Shrub & Vine Collection, and Old Quarry. Each site is different in its own way, but all have that part of nature feel.
Long Dock Park is one of Hilderbrand's favorite places he has worked on. It is in Beacon, New York which is in the Hudson Valley. I think this work is one of his favorites because it is so close to home. He was able to reconstruct a site that he had some sort of connection to. Long Dock Park was originally a brownfield, with very little use and a nuisance to the area. Hilderbrand was the lead architect on this project. He worked with two other people from his firm. They designed the park to rehabilitate the wetlands and meadows and allow the community to put the area to better use. I personally believe this site was very interesting. Reconstruction of brownfields is a widely known idea in this time, but they did not just work to make the place healthier, they also worked to help the wildlife and community. Much of the land used is covered in grassland. They left the land to the environment and it does not need much maintenance, because it is for the wildlife. People can go there to kayak, picnic, take a stroll, or do activities at the visitor center. (Figure 3-5)
Another design Hilderbrand mentioned was Clark Art Institute. This place was a completely different design from Long Dock Park. For starters, it was not an area that needed to be revitalized like the brownfield. Instead this project was designing a campus and incorporating art into the environment. This project is interesting because of the use of visual elements in the design. There are many water features that were involved in this design and they intrigue the human eye. In the design plan on Reed Hilderbrand website, it is also shown that this design was sustainable in some ways as well. They used the water features to control storm water run-off. There are many trails and walk ways to be used, and over all this project really shows how the firm likes to have people and the environment connected.(Figure 6-8)
Last, but not least, Hilderbrand mentioned the Old Quarry as another of his favorites. The project was at an old quarry that has waterfront property. When designing the area, the architect of the home wanted a specific design, but allowed Reed Hilderbrand to put their twist on it. Almost all the medium used in the project was original rock from the quarry. They took the rocks and designed them in different patterns for the yard and pathways. Much of the masonry was done on site and there was a close relationship with the contractor and landscape architects. In the pictures I think everything went together really well. The idea of using what was already there is a great concept because they were not bringing anything invasive in and were not using rocks from another quarry. Also this helps the landowner have an easier time taking care of the space because it is more rock and less plant growth. I enjoyed this site because of the design and the artistic value of the overall place. (Figure 9-11)
To someone who is studying to become a landscape architect, Gary Hilderbrand is a great person to research. He and his firm help show how important it is to get people involved with the environment. In the email sent to Gary I asked him what advice he would give to a student going into the BLA major and he said, "Seek out the teachers who are dedicated to design. Those who care about building, and plants, and design expression. Attach yourself to them. Design is an acquired point of view, and one that can be a lifelong pursuit. It never stops rewarding." Gary Hilderbrand is a very educated man, but he appreciates where he came from and all that he had learned throughout his life.
Work Cited
"Profile - Reed Hilderbrand." Profile - Reed Hilderbrand. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"Gary Hilderbrand - People - Reed Hilderbrand." Reed Hilderbrand. Reed Hilderbrand LLC. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. <http://www.reedhilderbrand.com/people/gary_hilderbrand>.
"Gary Hilderbrand, FASLA." Asla.org. ASLA. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Saunders, William. "THE INVENTIONS OF REED HILDERBRAND." Landscape Architecture Magazine. LAM, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
"Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park." Scenic Hudson. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
"Reordering Old Quarry Guilford, CT." Asla.org. ASLA. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
Mosher, Jake. "Final Essay Reed Hilderbrand." Fall 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.