Landscape Architect Articles

2016 Firms of the South: Carbo10-04-16 | Feature

CARBO Landscape Architecture
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A Refuge Near Suburbia Rapides Parish, Louisiana

The clients sought a "park-like retreat" for their unremarkable suburban property. Through careful site selection, reintroduction of natural systems and restrained landscape design, these goals were achieved. Excavated soil from the pond construction allowed the site to be elevated above the adjacent flood zones. The pond retains all the property's stormwater. Generous native plantings and a large pond help establish the natural character desired, while artful execution of site details provided visually stimulating place for outdoor living and recreation.

Gateway and Streetscape Enhancements, Alexandria, Louisiana

Through Alexandria's SPARC initiative, (Special Planned Activity Redevelopment Corridors) the city implemented a series of initiatives to create a consistent visual identity and foster positive public and private redevelopment in underserved commercial corridors and neighborhoods. The projects included gateway landscapes marking entrances to the district, and improvements to the streetscapes including widened sidewalks, bike lanes, rain gardens, bus shelters and lighting. These enhancements have helped induce private redevelopment, and foster pride in the community.

Bridge Truss Courtyard, Alexandria, Louisiana

The design of this corporate office is informed by the salvaging and reinterpretation of seemingly ordinary, discarded materials commonly used by a bridge and road construction company. The centerpiece is the courtyard pavilion, which re-uses large metal bridge trusses salvaged from a nearby bridge demolition project. The use of recycled aggregates, road signs, metal beams, aggregate sieve screens and native plant materials typical of rural road edges create a landscape compatible with the company's mission of sustainability. CARBO also provided exterior and interior architectural design for this commission.

Landscape Laboratories: Indian Springs School Campus Indian Springs, Alabama

As part of an ambitious facility improvement plan, CARBO was retained in conjunction with the architects to develop a new landscape vision for the campus that would embrace the ideals of the original Olmsted campus plan and resurrect the original campus landscape ethic. The plan reinforces the school's mission of "Learning through Living" by fostering opportunities for faculty and students to observe and learn from the new outdoor environments. The campus core implementation included a number of new buildings oriented to establish views to the lake. This concept was reinforced by the design of the adjacent exterior academic environments. Pedestrian pathways weave through rain gardens, native plantings and staggered rows of native trees to maximize the lake's visibility. Native rock-lined runnels and biofiltration rain gardens retain and treat site stormwater.

Mid-Century River House, Lafayette, Louisiana

In restoring this mid-century home and landscape to its modern origins, simplicity and economy were key strategies. A new outdoor living area and pool renovation were the primary interventions, using a limited material and plant palette to complement the residential architecture. Off-site views were baffled while favorable internal views of the river were framed through the use of vegetation, creating a sense of enclosure from the surrounding neighborhood. Implemented in phases, this commission resulted in a current response within a neighborhood and region dominated by more traditional sensibilities.

CARBO Landscape Architecture is a landscape architecture and planning firm established in 1995 as Jeffrey Carbo Landscape Architects. With 3 partners and 9 team members, the firm's experience consists of a continuum of successfully completed works, including: residential and estate gardens, regional parks, institutional, corporate, and academic campuses, botanical gardens; environmental education venues, urban streetscapes, and large scale planning initiatives. CARBO's work embraces a thoughtful and resolute mission: clear purpose and artful and sustainable execution within the ideology of classic simplicity. CARBO has received extensive peer recognition with over 70 state and national ASLA awards.

As seen in LASN magazine, October 2016.