From Blank Page to Built Place—Your Project’s Hero’s Journey
Opening Scene – Why Every Place Needs a Good Story Picture an empty lot, a tired backyard, or a worn-out building shell. It’s a blank page waiting for characters, conflict, and resolution. As an avid reader and former AP English student (many many years ago), I’ve been thinking about the design process, and how to […]
Io LandArch: Culture, Nature, Place
Our logo includes the words: “Culture, Nature, Place” – ever wondered why? Today, we’re introducing (or re-introducing) you to our practice and why we do what we do. Adaptive reuse at Ogden Business Exchange Commons Team Io LandArch is a woman-owned interdisciplinary design firm specializing in landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban design, and planning, based […]
Slow Down the Cycle: How to Surf the Community Revitalization Wave
Based on my observations as both a professional and community organizer across numerous projects, I’ve come to realize that community revitalization is not a fixed point but a continuous cycle of improvement and renewal. Similar to ocean waves, there are peaks and troughs, and the best place to be is on the uphill slope of […]
Seasonal Maintenance Guide: Fall
We’ve crafted a seasonal maintenance guide, which is available as a free resource on our resources page. Below, I’ve compiled a few key directions for fall maintenance for your landscape. Perennials & Grasses DON’T cut back perennials and grasses! The dried flower stalks add winter interest to the landscape. Many beneficial insects lay their eggs […]
Takeaways from Studying for SITES
Our studio manager, Lauren Colunga, recently received her SITES AP certification. In this post, she shares her top takeaways from studying for the exam. A Process, not a Checklist SITES is a process, not a checklist. This is how all design should be – integrated from the start. Interdisciplinary communication – between planners, architects, landscape […]
Defining Success in Community Design: The Critical Question We Often Overlook
In the realm of urban development and landscape architecture, success can sometimes feel like a moving target. As professionals who collaborate closely with cities to plan and design public realms—ranging from historic districts to creative zones and vital public spaces like streetscapes, parks, and plazas—the initial stages of our projects typically involve in-depth discussions with […]
Three Strategies for Community Revitalization: Balancing Investment and Community Engagement
Community revitalization is a critical challenge for many cities across the United States. Efforts to breathe new life into declining areas often vary in approach and impact. Here, we explore three distinct strategies for community revitalization—Top Down, Bottom Up, and Guided—each offering unique benefits and facing specific challenges. The Springville Art Loops is a unique […]
Creative Crossroads: Unpacking the Power of Arts Districts in Your Community
Arts districts, often bustling with vibrant energy and creativity, have become integral to cultural and economic development in cities around the world. These defined geographical areas, rich in public art, galleries, performance venues, and creative workspaces, are not just places; they’re ecosystems that nurture artists and entertain communities. But what exactly drives the establishment of […]
Meet Mackenzie Yeager!
We’re delighted to welcome Mackenzie Yeager to Io LandArch as a Project Manager. A common thread throughout Mack’s work is a sensitivity to the character of a site—embracing not only its existing conditions and intentional design, but also the organic personality it develops over time, often in ways that diverge from the designer’s original vision. […]
Perpetual Perfection? The Truth About Landscape Maintenance
Warning, you aren’t going to like what I’m about to tell you about landscape maintenance… There’s a popular myth floating around out there, a fantasy that suggests if you set up your landscape a certain way, that you can simply walk away, expecting it to remain perpetually perfect and beautiful—a veritable fairy tale ending. Unfortunately, […]
Don’t Wait to Plant the Trees: The Long-Term Joy of Starting Today
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” — Modern Proverb Even as a landscape architect, I have to admit — I missed the mark on this one. When my family moved into our historic home in 2017, we had a toddler in tow and another […]
Reflections on NYC’s Public Landscape: Sustainable and Essential
Exploring NYC’s public landscapes has deepened my appreciation for their critical role in urban living. These spaces, though beautifully designed, face constant pressure from intense foot traffic, clearly demonstrated by widespread fencing protecting planted areas and winter grass cover. This protective approach underscores the reality that beloved public spaces are indeed “loved to death,” highlighting […]
Central Park as a Timeless Urban Refuge
Central Park is a true testament to timeless design and enduring relevance. During the peak of the Industrial Revolution, city officials astutely recognized the critical need for green space amid the dense urban core of New York City. Constructed between 1858 and 1873, Central Park was intended to provide a natural refuge and spaces for […]
An Architectural Gem with Complex Spaces: Little Island
Welcome back to our six-part blog series exploring some of New York City’s most notable public spaces through the eyes of a Utah Landscape Architect. In our previous posts, we’ve journeyed through the bustling plazas and serene parks that make up the city’s urban fabric. Today, we explore Little Island, a unique addition to the […]
The Super-Natural Manifesto
At Io LandArch, we believe landscapes should do more than look good or function efficiently—they should feel alive. Super-natural landscapes go beyond sustainability. They are generous, connected, and expressive. They repair what’s been broken. They invite us in. They remind us who we are. Super-natural landscapes are rooted in ecology, but also in culture, creativity, […]
Reimagining Urban Infrastructure with The High Line
When I first learned about The High Line, I was absolutely enthralled. This iconic linear park exemplifies everything I dream of in landscape architecture: adaptive reuse, integrated recreation, vibrant culture through public art, biomimetic design principles, and thoughtful adaptation of native plants and ecological associations. Originally constructed in the 1930’s as an elevated freight railway, […]
Connecting and Disconnecting at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Join me, a Utah landscape architect, as I continue my journey through New York City, exploring its public spaces through the lens of culture, nature, and place. In this post, I’ll discuss Brooklyn Bridge Park. A prime example of urban redevelopment, the park attempts to merge bustling city life with tranquil natural settings. An Example […]
Domino Park as a Case Study for Transforming Industrial Landscapes
One of the things I love most about landscape architecture is the creative ways we can breathe new life into spaces that once served entirely different purposes. Domino Park, located along the East River in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, exemplifies this. A beautifully executed example of adaptive reuse, industrial heritage merges gracefully with contemporary urban life in […]