George Hargreaves
Image 1 . George Hargreaves.3
Background Critic John Beardsley has written in his book that "Hargreaves performs a kind of alchemy in which the dross of post-industrial landscape is transformed into something approximating gold...combining a strong sculptural language with a sensitivity to both environmental process and social history..."1 George Hargreaves was born on November 12, 1952.2 He always mentions that he was inspired by the impact of natural phenomena rather than the design conventions established by his predecessors.4 When he was 18 years old, he had a summer trip to the Rocky Mountains, where triggered his interest in Landscape Architecture.5 George Hargreaves climbed up the Flat Top Mountain and described the scene, "It wasn't just the mountains or the trees or any of the individual elements. It was something about the sense of space itself.”6 When he got back home, he tried to explain this to his uncle, who was a dean of forestry at the University of Georgia and said, “Have you ever thought about going into landscape architecture?”7 From then on, George Hargreaves started studying landscape architecture and graduated from the School of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 1973.8 Then, he received a Masters from Harvard University Graduate School of Design.9 Witnessing the fury of Hurricane Gloria from a Honolulu hotel in 1982 also contributed to his aesthetic development.9 He listens the whispers mostly coming from the ruined and degraded landscapes created as an unfortunate by-product of the industrial world's activities, rather than coming from the sites that embody the undisturbed beauty of Nature.10 This makes Hargreaves' approach even more distinctive. |
In 1983, George Hargreaves found his own firm, Hargreaves Associates.11 Under his design direction, Hargreaves Associates has received 34 national awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).12 As himself, he received numerous awards, such as The J.B. Jackson Book Prize and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards in 2002.13 This team of designers has transformed numerous abandoned sites into topographically and functionally diverse landscapes, which display the possibility that a former industrial site can be reclaimed into a park.14 He is also the co-editor and author of the book, “Large Parks,” which explores large urban parks in depth as complex cultural spaces.15 Meanwhile, he started his academic career. He first taught at Cal Poly, University of Illinois Champaign, and University of Virginia Charlottesville.16 He continued teaching for over twenty years at Harvard University Graduate School of Design from 1986 and became a full professor and appointed chairman of the Landscape Architecture Department from 1996 through 2003.17 As a teacher, Hargreaves believes that although the GSD's Landscape Architecture Department has been doing an excellent job of providing professional education, an increase in the amount of research in the field is also necessery.18 He believes that the post-industrial era issues, such as environmental systems management, flood control, highway design, and bioengineering, are the heart of landscape architecture.19 |
Candlestick Point Cultural Park
George Hargreaves, environmental artist Doug Hollis, and architect Mark Mack collaborated together to create the Candlestick Point Cultural Park, an eighteen-acre park on San Francisco Bay from 1985 to 1993 and which once was a gravel bed.20
George Hargreaves, environmental artist Doug Hollis, and architect Mark Mack collaborated together to create the Candlestick Point Cultural Park, an eighteen-acre park on San Francisco Bay from 1985 to 1993 and which once was a gravel bed.20
Image 2. Candlestick Point Cultural Park.21
This park is entered through the “wind gate”, a narrow opening that is secured by 130-foot-long concrete walls.22 A visitor can feel a strong wind from behind and hear a whistling sound from the “wind gate’s” walls while he is walking toward the bay through the “wind gate”. |
Image 3. Candlestick Point Cultural Park.23
The ‘U’ shaped paths to the shore are bounded by aeolian mounds and wet tidal channels.24 The landforms’ “backslope”concaving toward the wind and the “slip face” convexing on the leeward create a habitat for varied plant growth.25 |
The wind is the theme of the park. When the wind blows, it feels like a welcome signal to attract people. This park possessed a series of interactions, movements, and engagements with the environment and a force that engages visitors’ motions by changing boundary between land and water.26 Visitors can focus more on its spatial view and the connection with natural power rather than beautiful scenery, as Hargreaves has said "various elements such as water, wind and gravity can enter and affect the landscape".27 Three factors, earth, wind and water, interact together to form a "environmental Theatre" that focuses on the contrasts between cultivated and the natural view. When visitors are walking through this "environmental Theatre", they can veiw the different pictures created by former, mowed and green plants and the latter, rough and tawny plants.28
Byxbee Park
The Byxbee Park is in Palo Alto, California, surrounded by water and was once a landfill.29 The hills in this park consist of up to 60 feet of garbage covered by a one-foot thick impenetrable layer of clay, which is also covered by two feet of topsoil.30 In 1988, the design team, artists Peter Richards, Michael Oppenheimer and Hargreaves Landscape Architects, took over this project, which consists of 150 acres.31 The first plan was completed in September 1991 at a cost of $1.4 million and covers 30 acres and rest of the project was scheduled for completion in 2003.32 This park achieved an Honor Award for excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1993 and an Outstanding Achievement, City Livability Award, from the US Conference of Mayors in 1994.33 The park is covered with natural grasses which turn green in the rainy season and wildflowers which bloom in the spring. 34
The Byxbee Park is in Palo Alto, California, surrounded by water and was once a landfill.29 The hills in this park consist of up to 60 feet of garbage covered by a one-foot thick impenetrable layer of clay, which is also covered by two feet of topsoil.30 In 1988, the design team, artists Peter Richards, Michael Oppenheimer and Hargreaves Landscape Architects, took over this project, which consists of 150 acres.31 The first plan was completed in September 1991 at a cost of $1.4 million and covers 30 acres and rest of the project was scheduled for completion in 2003.32 This park achieved an Honor Award for excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1993 and an Outstanding Achievement, City Livability Award, from the US Conference of Mayors in 1994.33 The park is covered with natural grasses which turn green in the rainy season and wildflowers which bloom in the spring. 34
Image 4. Byxbee Park, Palo Alto, California. 37
The paths on rolling hills are covered with crushed oyster shells and small shrubs are planted in hedgerows.35 Numerous small hillocks are arrayed on the top of the hills.36
The paths on rolling hills are covered with crushed oyster shells and small shrubs are planted in hedgerows.35 Numerous small hillocks are arrayed on the top of the hills.36
Image 5. Byxbee Park Pole Field39
The manmade artistic features are also unique in this park. A series of neat and uniform perch poles provided site for birds to rest.38
Image 6. The chevrons at Byxbee Park41
Also, the land gate is a 'v' shaped notch along the ridge line, which represents a transition from the windward to the leeward side of the park and draws visitors attention to the artificial nature of the landfill. 40
Hargreaves incorporates art into the park design that tranform a landfill into a garden with artistic expression. This park not only provides the opportunities for the people of Palo Alto to gain recreation and contemplation of the bay marshes, birds and wildlife, but also provides a model on how to connect the landfill below to the surrounding complex ecosystems by reclamation and artistic design.42
One Island East
He not only transformed abandoned sites into rural parks, but also designed an urban open space, One Island East, which creates a four hectare urban plaza to bridge the open space and circulation needs of a commercial office tower with 15,000 workers and adjacent high density residential housing of 50,000 residents in Hong Kong, China.43 This project is holden by Swire Properties Limited and at the base of a new seventy story office tower by Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd. Architects.44
He not only transformed abandoned sites into rural parks, but also designed an urban open space, One Island East, which creates a four hectare urban plaza to bridge the open space and circulation needs of a commercial office tower with 15,000 workers and adjacent high density residential housing of 50,000 residents in Hong Kong, China.43 This project is holden by Swire Properties Limited and at the base of a new seventy story office tower by Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd. Architects.44
Image 7. One Island East, California. 45
Within this open space, each rhomboid forms cascade fountains that pool water at the top of the plaza and send the flowing water over a series of illuminated granite knife edges into basins at the base of the forms.46 Step terraces are the edges of the cascades and create a wide range of built-in seating across the site. The lower part of the plaza provides the garden that consists of flourishing tropical vegetation and water elements. |
Image 8. An egg shaped artesian interactive fountain.48
At the entrance of the new office tower, there is an egg shaped artesian interactive fountain with large, black granite bars spaced apart and water spray between them. 47 |
There is a 230 meter long promenade that connects to the tower’s podium, which is used for special times or events with light, music, and water jets.49 This expressive mix of performance arts emphasizes the modernization and sophistication of One Island East.
My Thought
Hargreaves created plenty of designs and elements to emphasize the uniqueness of a park to trigger people’s interest, such as the “wind gate” in the Candlestick Point Cultural Park, or also to benefit the ecosystem, such as the Byxbee Park Pole Field that provides sites for birds to rest. His works always show the connection between human and nature. Barren sites and former industrial sites should be considered seriously, because they not only degrade the aesthetic of the city, but also have bad effect on the surrounding environment and ecosystem. Hargreaves’s works, the design of the Candlestick Point Cultural Park and the Byxbee Park, lead a modern trend that landscape architecture can also focus on the transformation of abandoned sites rather than beauty “beautiful sites”. For rural design, his work always focuses more on the nature and ecosystem, but for the urban sign, Hargreaves considers more about the convenient and humanity, such as the built-in seating and podium in the One Island East.
1.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
2.Ibid.
3.George Hargreaves. Sep 11, 2011. George Hargreaves to deliver Landscape Institute’s inaugural Jellicoe Lecture. Digital Image.
4.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
5.Ibid.
6.Ibid.
7.Ibid.
8.Ibid.
9.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
10.Ibid.
11.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
12."Hargreaves Associates." - Firm. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/firm/Principals-Staff/hargreaves/.
13.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
14."Unearthed | Karen M'Closkey." Unearthed | Karen M'Closkey. Accessed November 29, 2015. http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/15074.html.
15.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
16.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
17.Ibid.
18.Ibid.
19.Ibid.
20.Conan, Michel. Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2000. 212-215.
21.Hargreaves Associates. Candlestick Point Cultural Park. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, San Francisco, California. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
22.Meyer, Elizabeth K. "Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture." Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/environmentalism/env8.pdf.
23.Candlestick Point Cultural Park. Roadtrippers. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Nov 26, 2011.
24.Meyer, Elizabeth K. "Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture." Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/environmentalism/env8.pdf.
25.Ibid.
26.Ibid.
27.Ibid.
28.Ibid.
29.Horii, Ronald. "Palo Alto." Palo Alto. February 14, 2000. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.baytrail.org/vtour/map3/access/Btpalto/Byxbee.htm.
30.Ibid.
31.Ibid.
32.Ibid.
33.Ibid.
34.Ibid.
35.Ibid.36.Ibid.
37.Hargreaves Associates. Byxbee Park, Palo Alto, California. Byxbee Park, Palo Alto, California. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
38."CultureNOW - :." CultureNOW - :. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://culturenow.org/entry&permalink=20785&seo=Byxbee-Landfill-Park--Pole-Field_George-Hargreaves--Associates-Michael-Oppenheimer-and-Peter-Richards.
39.Horii, Ronald. Byxbee Park Pole Field, 4:37 pm. Nov 26, 2011. High Tide at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and Byxbee Park. Digital image.
40.Horii, Ronald. "Palo Alto." Palo Alto. February 14, 2000. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.baytrail.org/vtour/map3/access/Btpalto/Byxbee.htm.
41.Horii, Ronald. The chevrons at Byxbee Park, pointing towards the Palo Alto Airport, overlooking the Yacht Harbor Basin, with the Ecocenter in the background, 2:32 pm. Nov 26, 2011. High Tide at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and Byxbee Park. Digital image.
42."Byxbee Park Palo Alto, California." -Byxbee Park. Accessed November 29, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/projects/PublicParks/Byxbee/.43."One Island East / Hargreaves Associates." ArchDaily. August 25, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/162961/one-island-east-hargreaves-associates.
43."One Island East / Hargreaves Associates." ArchDaily. August 25, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/162961/one-island-east-hargreaves-associates.
44.Ibid.
45.Hargreaves Associates. One Island East. One Island East - Tarkoo Place, Hong Kong, China. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
46.Ibid.
47.Ibid.
48.Hargreaves Associates. an egg shaped artesian interactive fountain. One Island East - Tarkoo Place, Hong Kong, China. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
49."Hargreaves Associates." - One Island East. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/projects/Corporate/OneIslandEast/.
2.Ibid.
3.George Hargreaves. Sep 11, 2011. George Hargreaves to deliver Landscape Institute’s inaugural Jellicoe Lecture. Digital Image.
4.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
5.Ibid.
6.Ibid.
7.Ibid.
8.Ibid.
9.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
10.Ibid.
11.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
12."Hargreaves Associates." - Firm. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/firm/Principals-Staff/hargreaves/.
13.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
14."Unearthed | Karen M'Closkey." Unearthed | Karen M'Closkey. Accessed November 29, 2015. http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/15074.html.
15.Wikipedia. Accessed November 26, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hargreaves.
16.Gewertz, Ken. "Landscape Alchemist." Landscape Alchemist. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/02.06/LandscapeAlchem.html.
17.Ibid.
18.Ibid.
19.Ibid.
20.Conan, Michel. Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2000. 212-215.
21.Hargreaves Associates. Candlestick Point Cultural Park. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, San Francisco, California. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
22.Meyer, Elizabeth K. "Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture." Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/environmentalism/env8.pdf.
23.Candlestick Point Cultural Park. Roadtrippers. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Nov 26, 2011.
24.Meyer, Elizabeth K. "Environmentalism in Landscape Architecture." Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/environmentalism/env8.pdf.
25.Ibid.
26.Ibid.
27.Ibid.
28.Ibid.
29.Horii, Ronald. "Palo Alto." Palo Alto. February 14, 2000. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.baytrail.org/vtour/map3/access/Btpalto/Byxbee.htm.
30.Ibid.
31.Ibid.
32.Ibid.
33.Ibid.
34.Ibid.
35.Ibid.36.Ibid.
37.Hargreaves Associates. Byxbee Park, Palo Alto, California. Byxbee Park, Palo Alto, California. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
38."CultureNOW - :." CultureNOW - :. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://culturenow.org/entry&permalink=20785&seo=Byxbee-Landfill-Park--Pole-Field_George-Hargreaves--Associates-Michael-Oppenheimer-and-Peter-Richards.
39.Horii, Ronald. Byxbee Park Pole Field, 4:37 pm. Nov 26, 2011. High Tide at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and Byxbee Park. Digital image.
40.Horii, Ronald. "Palo Alto." Palo Alto. February 14, 2000. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.baytrail.org/vtour/map3/access/Btpalto/Byxbee.htm.
41.Horii, Ronald. The chevrons at Byxbee Park, pointing towards the Palo Alto Airport, overlooking the Yacht Harbor Basin, with the Ecocenter in the background, 2:32 pm. Nov 26, 2011. High Tide at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and Byxbee Park. Digital image.
42."Byxbee Park Palo Alto, California." -Byxbee Park. Accessed November 29, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/projects/PublicParks/Byxbee/.43."One Island East / Hargreaves Associates." ArchDaily. August 25, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/162961/one-island-east-hargreaves-associates.
43."One Island East / Hargreaves Associates." ArchDaily. August 25, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/162961/one-island-east-hargreaves-associates.
44.Ibid.
45.Hargreaves Associates. One Island East. One Island East - Tarkoo Place, Hong Kong, China. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
46.Ibid.
47.Ibid.
48.Hargreaves Associates. an egg shaped artesian interactive fountain. One Island East - Tarkoo Place, Hong Kong, China. Nov 26, 2015. Digital image.
49."Hargreaves Associates." - One Island East. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://www.hargreaves.com/projects/Corporate/OneIslandEast/.