在“里高城”内培育自然丨美国丹佛丨Design Workshop,Inc. & Aspen

Nurturing Nature in the Mile High City｜Design Workshop, Inc. – Aspen

项目陈述

Project Statement

在城市面临气候变化挑战的背景下，郁郁葱葱的自然绿洲——包括历史街区中被快速城市化吸收的大型地块——可以成为重建多样生态系统的宝贵案例，为社区带来价值，使城市空间更宜居。

本项目源于一个家庭对园艺的热爱，以及他们希望通过设计庆祝当地自然特色的愿景。设计师以三英亩土地为蓝图，结合自然与人文，创造了一种变革性的景观体验。通过恢复、庇护和强化弹性的自然主义景观序列，项目将生物多样性重新注入城市环境，赋予长期管理不足的景观以全新活力。

As cities grapple with the consequences of climate change, lush pockets of nature—including large-lot, urban parcels in historic neighborhoods that have been absorbed into a rapidly growing metropolitan area—can serve as effective and transferable case studies in reconnecting diverse ecologies and contributing community value to make urban spaces more habitable. Catalyzed by a family’s appreciation of horticulture, and their desire to create a distinct place that celebrates its regional setting, the designer forged a transformative vision across three acres, merging nature and nurture. Addressing years of deficient landscape management, the naturalistic sequence of restoration, refuge, and resiliency infuses biodiversity back into the city.

▲亲近自然：新建的开放式花园凉亭和木制亲水平台围绕在修复后的林地边缘，为人们提供与自然亲密接触的景观视角，Engaging with Nature: A new, open-air garden pavilion and floating wood deck, situated against a restored woodland edge, offers intimate vignettes of nature. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

项目说明

Project Narrative

历史背景

20 世纪初，这片土地曾是丹佛首家马球俱乐部的一部分。到 20 世纪 40 年代，这里逐渐发展为城市边缘的大型住宅区。东临开阔草原，西眺广阔山景，毗邻 Cherry Creek 的便利地理位置使其成为人与科罗拉多前沿地区丰富生态相连的理想之地。

在 2000 年代初，这片三英亩的地块经历了一次全面更新。然而，因长期景观管理不善，植被过度生长、水资源消耗过高，再加上多年无序开发，土地进一步与开放空间脱节，亟需通过恢复生物多样性来重建城市生态平衡。

设计愿景

2019 年，客户购入这片地块，提出打造一个展示当地气候与地理特色的城市景观的愿景。受科罗拉多生态多样性的启发，景观设计师将一片孤立的土地转变为融合多种自然系统的生态空间，强调环境责任，并创造了一场自然体验之旅，将城市环境转化为一种艺术化的抽象表达。

地域特色

如同植物园中的微型景观集合，园艺景观与功能元素完美结合。入口车道蜿蜒穿过一片非正式黄松林（Ponderosa Pines），这些树木从旱生多年生植物花园中自然生长，模拟了草原逐渐过渡至山脚丘陵的景象。北部与东部边界的杂乱玫瑰灌木丛被改造成光影斑驳的花园，点缀着区域特色的巨石和珍稀针叶树。一条蜿蜒的石溪穿过地形，不仅美观，还能有效应对区域季节性暴雨所带来的极端天气。

栖息地营造

设计用生态丰富的景观替代了耗水量大的大片草坪和单一修剪灌木。植物种类的选择支持了丹佛市的“授粉者之路”计划，这一计划旨在应对气候变化、提高生物多样性并缓解城市热岛效应。小型哺乳动物、各类鸟类，甚至偶尔出现的鹿，都在精心保护的珍稀树种中找到了庇护。

沉浸式体验

为解决现有的微气候问题、流线不畅以及空间利用不足的现状，设计强化了家庭全年享受这片土地的可能性。原本封闭的建筑墙被缩短，优化了空间布局，引入更多自然光，并增加了聚会空间的可达性。原有草坪被改造成凉亭，凉亭被紫藤覆盖，形成几何形泳池旁的清凉休憩空间。喷泉和开放草地等原设计中的重要元素被修复并融入全新场地构想中。

▲在“里高城”内培育自然：这片环绕现有住宅的三英亩土地，因长期景观管理不善而面临改变的迫切需求。© Design Workshop, Inc.

▲重新定义城市花园的行动倡议：2019 年，新业主提出了一个以区域特色为灵感的愿景，聚焦生态修复、户外生活和基于自然的体验，A Call to Action: Redefining the City Garden: In 2019, new owners established a new vision inspired by regionalism, and defined by restored ecologies, outdoor living, and nature-based experiences. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲挖掘城市大型地块的潜力：早期分析显示，城市化导致环境联系丧失。恢复生物多样性和生态复兴被确立为核心目标，Unlocking the Potential of Large-Lot, Urban Properties: Early analysis revealed a loss of contextual connectivity due to urbanization. Restoring biodiversity and ecological resurgence became primary goals. © Design Workshop, Inc.

▲融入高海拔园艺特色：宾客步入时，首先置身于一个自然主义多年生植物花园，这里充满了授粉植物和本地松树，围绕重新设计的车道恣意生长。© Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲景观转型：原本经过扭曲修剪的正式灌木丛被更符合现代建筑线条的耐旱植物群所取代。Transformation: Formal shrub masses, maintained in contorted forms, were replaced with a xeric plant palette that complements the modern lines of the architecture. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲支持社区生态计划：植物选择和布局融入了丹佛市“授粉者之路”计划，助力创建和维护弹性栖息地的城市倡议，Embracing Community Programs: Species selection and layout supports the goals of Denver’s Pollinator Trail – a city-wide initiative to create and foster resilient habitats. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲塑造科罗拉多式体验：不同于邻近以大片草坪为主的地块，这座重新构想的花园以自然为核心，Cultivating a Colorado Experience: In contrast with neighboring properties dominated by expansive lawns, the foundation of the reimagined garden is defined by nature-based destinations. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲探索与互动：自然形态与人工设计的并置突显了两者的实际美感与情感共鸣。Discovery and Engagement: The juxtaposition of natural and man-made forms emphasizes their physical and visceral qualities. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲景观更新：原先密集的玫瑰灌木丛被改造成一个以丰富色彩与质感为特色的明亮花园，并点缀区域巨石与珍稀针叶树，Transformation: An impenetrable rose thicket is replaced with a luminous garden of texture and color, accented by regional boulders and specimen conifers. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲自然雨水管理：干溪床贯穿场地，成为暴雨径流的收集与分配系统，从多个视角清晰可见，减少了地下排水系统的需求，Passive Stormwater Management: A dry creek bed, visible from various vantage points, harnesses and distributes frequent storm runoff to reduce underground drainage infrastructure. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲重新利用未开发空间：设计优化了微气候和流线问题，拓展了花园功能，同时满足家庭全年使用的需求，Repurposing Underutilized Spaces: The design addresses microclimate and circulation challenges, extending the use of the garden and reinforcing the family’s desire for year-round use. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲建筑与景观的和谐交融：凉亭位于场地中保留下来的树木间，紫藤覆盖的遮阳结构毗邻新建的泳池，为居住者提供了宁静的休憩空间，Interplay of Architecture and Landscape: Set amongst preserved mature trees, the pavilion and its wisteria-cloaked shade structure offers a respite adjacent to a new geometric lap pool. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲从场地汲取灵感：夜色映衬下的泳池延伸至修复后的草地，其清晰的边缘与倒影构成高山湖泊的画卷，Inspired by Place: The nocturnal-toned pool extends into a restored meadow, its reflective surface and crisp detailing an abstracted vignette of still alpine lakes. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲将城市环境转化为艺术体验：人们置身于自然与精致设计交织的多样景观中，体验抽象艺术般的空间旅行，Rendering the Urban Surroundings an Abstraction Rather than a Reality: Individuals are transported through a journey of diverse landscapes defined by naturalistic and refined elements. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

▲教育与传播生态意识：屋主人通过组织活动与公众分享这片花园，向人们展示出如何在城市环境中创造一个具有生物多样性的自然空间，Educating and Raising Awareness: The owners have shared the grounds through organized, public events that celebrate the creation of a bio-diverse garden amid an urban environment. © Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc.

Project Narrative

HISTORY

At the turn of the 20thcentury, the property was part of Denver’s first Polo Club, transitioning to a large-lot subdivision on the fringe of the burgeoning city in the 1940s. With flat, open prairie to the east, expansive mountain vistas to the west, and easy access to Cherry Creek, the neighborhood offered residents the ability to connect with the bountiful flora and fauna of Colorado’s Front Range. In the early 2000s, the three-acre parcel received a comprehensive update. However, a prolonged period of inadequate landscape management resulted in areas of unruly vegetative overgrowth and consumptive water use. These conditions, combined with decades of unruly development that further disconnect the land from open space, created the critical need to restore biodiversity to the urban setting.

PROMPT

In 2019, our clients purchased the property, setting forth a vision to create an urban landscape that celebrates horticultural expressions unique to the climate and geography of the region. Inspired by the ecological diversity of Colorado, the landscape architect transformed a property detached from its surroundings to one of multiple natural systems that reflects environmental responsibility, with an experiential journey of nature-based experiences – one that renders the urban surroundings an abstraction rather than a reality.

REGIONAL PORTRAITS

Like individual collections found within a botanical garden, horticultural vignettes coalesce with program elements. The entry drive meanders through an informal grove of Ponderosa pines – a species that naturalizes as the plains rise into nearby foothills – which emerge from a xeric perennial garden. Along north and east boundaries, an impenetrable rose thicket is transformed into a luminous shade garden, accented by regional boulders and specimen conifers. A stone ravine threads its way across the topography, its sinuous form able to harness intense seasonal stormwater events that define the region’s unpredictable weather patterns.

FOSTERING HABITATS

Expansive, water-intensive lawns and formal, monocultural hedges maintained in contorted forms were replaced with a palette that approximates nature in an ecologically rich landscape. Species selection supports Denver’s Pollinator Trail, a city-wide initiative that aims to combat climate change, improve biodiversity, and reduce the heat island effect. Small mammals, a variety of birds, and even the occasional deer, find refuge in the regal specimen trees, each carefully protected through construction.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

Addressing existing microclimate issues, circulation challenges, and underutilized spaces, the design reinforces the family’s desire to find year-round enjoyment in their property. A monolithic architectural wall is shortened, a spatial edit that introduces light and accessibility to new gathering spaces, while a former lawn is transformed into a pavilion, its wisteria-cloaked shade structure offering respite to a geometric pool. Elements integral to the original design – including the fountain and open meadow – were rehabilitated and assimilated into the reimagined place.

IMPACT

For the owners, the tradition of garden-making is synonymous with celebration, in the form of intimate and larger gatherings. Their pride of place is evident in the inspiration, contemplation, and reflection inherent in their vision and desire to raise community awareness around the value of landscape as a both composition and habitat.

Project Credits

Mike Albert, FASLA, Principal – Design Workshop, Inc.

Jennifer Wang, ASLA, Project Manager – Design Workshop, Inc.

Nora Jacobs, Project Designer – Design Workshop, Inc.

Brandon Huttenlocher, Photographer – Design Workshop, Inc.

Rex Koo, Bryan Cueva, Sarah Chase Shaw, Awards Assistance – Design Workshop, Inc.

Charles Anderson Landscape Architects, Original Landscape Architect (2008) –

NOTE: The project is an adaptation of Charles Anderson’s original design. Elements on the site plan, including the arrival drive, entry fountain, meadow, south terrace, linear stair, perimeter trail, and select areas of vegetation should be credited to Charles Anderson.

Olson Kundig, Architect (Original and Renovation)

Cecilia Tatoni, Interior Designer

Montare Builders, General Contractor

Two Keys Concierge, Landscape Contractor

Aquality Pools, Pool Contractor