A Moment of Silence for Ken Wood (1939-2012)

Ken Wood (1939-2012)

Tribute by Robert Mueting, ASLA, AIA, Principal, RJM Design Group, Inc., with the help of Ken?EUR??,,????'???s wife, Kristin

Ken Wood, an extremely talented, humble, quiet, creative design force in Southern California for many decades, has left a great void in the world, and in his chosen profession of landscape architecture.

Sadly, Ken was ultimately defeated by cancer that had attacked his body over the years since early in his professional career. Ken, 72, was living with his wife, Kristin, at their winter home (?EUR??,,????'??La Libert????(C)?EUR??,,????'??) on the West Coast of France when his spirit left this earth. Ken was born in Pasadena, Calif. in 1939, the oldest child of Walter and Virginia Wood. As a young man growing up in Southern California in the ?EUR??,,????'???40s and ?EUR??,,????'???50s he experienced a unique time in what was still primarily an agricultural environment. As a teenager he loved animals, he raised his own Herford steer, owned three horses and rode in local parades. This interest in large animals led him to California State Polytechnic College. Ken wrote:

?EUR??,,????'??During my last two years of high school I wanted to study to become a veterinarian for large animals, but when I arrived at Cal. Poly., I visited the Department of Landscape Architecture and was so impressed with an exhibit of the last year student, that I signed up for the courses without a second thought. I have never regretted that decision. I loved my design and related landscape architecture courses and did very well in them...?EUR??,,????'??

The University of California Irvine, Main Beach Park, Laguna Beach and Dana Point Harbor are among Ken Wood?EUR??,,????'???s Southern California landscape architectural design portfolio.

Ken excelled in school and in work. He received his BLA in 1962, and an MA in urban planning in 1977 from UCI. During that time he worked in several local offices, including Eckbo, Dean and Williams (later EDAW), eventually becoming a partner with Frederick Lang of Laguna Beach, Calif., forming Lang and Wood AILA/ASLA in 1968. Ken started Kenneth Wood Associates ALSA in 1983, and ultimately merged his creative forces with RJM Design Group in 1989.

During his academic and very active professional career, Ken was honored with numerous awards and acknowledgements of his unique design ability. In 1982 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Environmental Design by the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association for contribution to his profession, service to the community, and commitment to the university and higher education. He was also president of the Southern California ASLA Chapter in 1987.

As an accomplished artist, Ken exhibited his pencil drawings and watercolor paintings in the U.S. and Europe. In all of his professional endeavors, Ken was a consummate professional, a true gentleman and always exhibited the utmost integrity. Ken created wonderful landscapes in Southern California for residential, commercial, educational and public spaces. A few of his notable projects included Casa Pacifica (Western Whitehouse); University of California Irvine; Santa Ana College; Main Beach Park, Laguna Beach; and Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point, Calif.

In Europe, Ken continued his creative efforts working on designs for transportation projects in Norway, illustrating and continuing as design consultant for RJM Design Group in California as a senior associate.

Over the past two decades, Ken enjoyed life with Kristin in her native homeland of Norway with their daughter, Kimberly, son-in-law, Gunnar, plus their two grandsons, Kristoffer, 14 and Thomas, 11. Ken continued to pursue all of his favorite past times: designing, drawing, painting, building, and remodeling their home in Oslo, a lakeside cabin in Norway, and his beloved home in France that reminded him of his early childhood in California.

Ken lived life to the fullest; he enjoyed every aspect of family life, avidly pursuing water and snow skiing, and his favorite hobby?EUR??,,????'??+creating entire model train villages. Those who know his work appreciate the remarkable artistry of his drawings and paintings, and the creativity of his landscape spaces. Ken had enormous health challenges throughout his life, but he seldom complained or voiced negative comments about anyone or anything. Only two issues caused him any serious concern; one social and one technological. He was adamantly opposed to the increasingly litigious environment of Southern California and its impact on the design professions. He also worried about the disconnection and dehumanization of design through advances in computer technology.

Ken personally touched and influenced my career, as he did many of us. His passing leaves a great void in our profession. His family and friends will always love Ken.