Longwood gardens west conservatory & site planning
Phase I of Longwood’s master plan for expansion, involving large-scale site improvements and three new gardens conceived in tandem with newly constructed West Conservatory and Administration Buildings.
Rendered plan for West Conservatory and surrounding site.
Historic aerial photo of Longwood Gardens.
Rendered view of West Conservatory from shaded promontory.
Woven relationship between formal gardens and surrounding meadow.
Ridge articulation diagram.
Mediterranean garden under glass.
Garden structure and accommodation of seasonal displays.
Seasonal events and installations.
Mediterranean garden Christmas installations.
Location: kennett square, Pa
Status: under construction
Landscape Architect: reed Hilderbrand
Role: contributing designer
The westward expansion of Longwood Gardens to include a new West Conservatory builds on the existing site organization: conservatories and gardens occupy the ridge, which is accommodated by stately, tree-lined east-west corridors. The ridge is articulated through earthwork and long bars of trees, while the planting in lower strata weaves the cultivated grounds into the surrounding woods and meadow.
The interior of the West Conservatory both allows for seasonal horticultural installations and stands alone as a holistic, mediterranean garden under glass. Islands of dry climate plants appear to float within a plane of water, each tied together by a limited plant selection but also containing unique species that distinguish it from the others. The islands are punctuated by hawthorn hedges, Italian cypress, and bougainvillea trellises, as well as canals flanked by species expressing a wetter condition.