Wet + Dry: Landscapes of Resilience and Material Exploration

Surfacedesign is a landscape architecture and urban design firm based in San Francisco, California. This internationally award-winning practice focuses on creating dynamic parks, campuses, plazas, waterfronts, civic landscapes, and private gardens. The firm’s approach emphasizes and celebrates the unique context and imaginative potential of each project. Led by partners James A. Lord, Roderick Wyllie, and Geoff di Girolamo, the studio’s design process is rooted in asking novel questions and listening to a site and its users - a process that has led to engaging and inspiring landscapes that are rugged, contemporary, and crafted.

Increasingly, water has become a central focus of all landscape interventions. Holistic, systems-based design thinking that actively engages water extremes—from drought to flooding/sea level rise— is at the core of Surfacedesign’s practice. Challenging the formal manifestations of municipal guidelines and standards for water management, each project engages water as an integral design element. James and Roderick will share a range of work from the residential to the infrastructural. These works celebrate water systems and explore how planting, topography and cultural narratives can reinforce water resiliency.   sdisf.com

James A Lord, FASLA, is a founding partner of Surfacedesign, Inc. James’ innovative design approach and stewardship of the firm’s design practice has established Surfacedesign as an international leader in urban design and sustainability. He leads projects in New Zealand, Hawaii, Mexico, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. James received his MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and his BARCH from the University of Southern California.

Roderick Wyllie, FASLA, is an award-winning landscape architect and a founding partner of Surfacedesign, Inc. Roderick has led a variety of complex projects within the office, including the Uber Campus in Mission Bay, San Francisco’s Bayfront Park, The Land’s End Visitor Center, The Barnacles at Pier 9 and Expedia Global Headquarters in Seattle. His horticultural knowledge and passion for material authenticity reinforce craftsmanship and attention to detail into each project at Surfacedesign.

Following the presentation, James and Roderick will be signing copies of their book, SURFACEDESIGN: Material Landscapes (Monacelli Press, 2019)

$12

Things to Know
This event is for all ages.
Ample free public parking is available. Enter at Hyatt on Palm Canyon Drive or in the multi-level public garage across from the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Handicap parking is available. This event is wheelchair accessible.
The organizer of this event is Modernism Week.

Event Check-in Location 
CAMP Theater, 285 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262
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Photo Credits: Photography Marion Brenner, Millicent Harvey Photography