
Preservation of Prairie Style Arts & Crafts Landscapes
As awareness of historic preservation increases, more homeowners are restoring their historic homes, including many unique Prairie Style Arts & Crafts Landscapes in Utah. The treatment of the surrounding landscape constitutes an important component of any rehabilitation or restoration process.
In many instances, all or portions of the landscapes that surround historic homes have historic significance. However, even with completely new landscapes, we should design them to complement the historic structure. This provides a sense of context for both the building and surrounding neighborhood.

Io LandArch’s landscape design at the E.O. Wattis House represents an example of the process of envisioning a period appropriate landscape. This process included: incorporating elements of the historic research, landscape inventory and assessment, historic preservation, rehabilitation, and re-creation of a prairie school garden.
The Significance of the Prairie School
Within the preservation movement, Arts & Crafts period homes, and more specifically, Prairie Style architecture, has gained increasing popularity from a preservation focus. From a landscape architectural perspective, this holds particular interest. The Arts & Crafts era followed the birth of the Landscape Architecture profession, and marks the treatment of the landscape as an extension of the home’s living space.

This landscape plan drawing for the E.O. Wattis House shows the period-style celebration of the Midwest’s open character, horizontal expanse, and native vegetation. Read more about the prairie style in this article by the Cultural Landscape Foundation.
Preservation Process
We ought to consider certain processes when dealing with historic and otherwise historically associated Prairie School landscapes. As with any good preservation project, this process should begin with a complete inventory of existing conditions and thorough research.
Based on the data compiled in this first step, an analysis and programming phase follows. This phase will allow the owners of the property to determine the best approach for preserving historic resources while providing for future use of the property.
Finally, with this list of information and project goals, we enter the design phase. This phase will reconcile the context and preservation of historic resources with the realization of a complete and functional landscape. As a result, we will have a project that will be both respected and enjoyed for years to come.

The historic Pingree Mansion in Ogden’s Jefferson Avenue Historic District, is a fine example of an Arts and Crafts-era home with strong Prairie-style influences.
For more information on our historic landscape preservation practice, visit our practice page here.
This post is adapted from a longer article written by Shalae Larsen, and edited by Susan Crook.