Tara Vincenta, RLA, ASLA

Tara Vincenta, principal and founder of Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc., plays a major role on every project from schematic design through construction administration. Under her direction, the firm has won seven Merit Awards since 2008, one Honor Award, and an Innovation in Design Award from CTASLA.

Tara began her career 30 years ago in Denver, where she developed an interest and expertise in designing with drought-tolerant, native and sustainable plantings. After relocating to Connecticut, Tara expanded her career from site planning and design for corporate parks, urban plazas, commercials office buildings and mountain resort development to include designing private and therapeutic landscapes. With a strong commitment to facilitating the connection between nature, landscapes and public health, Tara designed the Sequential Outdoor Learning Environment to address the needs of over one million children with autism and their families. The SOL Environment won a CTASLA Merit Award in 2008, and Tara has since presented on the topic twice: once in September 2012 at the ASLA Annual Meeting, and once in July 2012 at the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Tara is currently on the faculty at SUNY Purchase, teaching a course in planting design with an emphasis on creating native and sustainable landscapes. In addition, she is a member of the Newtown Architects Collaborative, a group of local architects and designers volunteering their expertise for a new Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Firm:
Artemis Landscape Architects, Bridgeport, Conn.
Conn. license #0001029; N.Y. license #001003-1; Calif. license #5152; R.I. license #485; Penn. license #002999

Education:
SUNY College of Environmental Design and Forestry: Landscape Architecture degree (with honors)
School of the Chicago Botanic Garden: Certificate of Merit, Healthcare Garden Design

Professional Affiliations:
ASLA (Connecticut Chapter)
USGBC
Newtown Architects Collaborative

Certifications:
CLARB certified

Speaking Engagements:
Spoke on Sequential Outdoor Learning Environment (SOLenvironment.org) at the ASLA Annual Meeting in September 2012 and at a Healthcare and Therapeutic Landscapes seminar at the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden in July 2012. On the faculty at SUNY Purchase teaching a course in planting design with an emphasis on creating native and sustainable landscapes.

Natural Swimming Pool, Newtown, Conn.

The owner of this private residence in Newtown, Conn., wanted to replace a crumbling man-made pond with a natural swimming pool; one that didn't use chemicals. The answer was this BioNova???(R)???AE???? pool, which uses plants to naturally filter the water. When designing the pool, the goal was to create an environment that would blend the classical aspects of the home with a more contemporary feel. The shallow end of the pool features a "beach entry" with a gentle slope that falls to more than 9 feet at the deepest section. A boardwalk running the length of the pool connects to a lily pond with "floating" bluestone stepping-stones, creating an interactive experience with the pool and natural bio zones. Natural biofiltration areas include a shallow zone along the boardwalk and the deeper lily pond.

Wilson Point Residence, Norwalk, Conn.

This shoreline home located along the Long Island Sound in Norwalk, Conn., required a master plan that created private, elegant outdoor living spaces while maintaining stunning harbor views. An "outdoor room" was created with the placement of an evergreen hedge clipped to the perfect height for privacy from an adjacent lane, while preserving a perfect line of sight to the water. Simple plantings of boxwood and ornamental grasses in the pool area defer to the natural surroundings. The quiet colors of the granite terrace extend the feeling of the interior limestone floors. An antique compass rose on the floor of the gazebo makes a subtle statement about the home's marine location and the homeowners' considerable navigational skills. Farther afield at the perimeter of the property, earthen berms were created to shield the glare of headlights from the road. These were planted with richly textured and flowering seasonal plants, providing screening at just the right height, as well as year round seasonal interest.

Nautically Inspired Terrace, Darien, Conn.

Spectacular water views along the rocky coastal area of Darien, Conn., provided inspiration for the design of an outdoor entertaining terrace that would serve as a transition to the home from an existing elevated deck. A simple spiral of bluestone set in peastone forms the elegant basis of this nautically inspired design. Curved stone seat walls embrace this spiral, providing seating for family gatherings. Curved bluestone steps lead to an elevated firepit. Sweeping curved platforms of peastone with bluestone risers form a transition to the lower level lawn area. Existing rock outcroppings were incorporated into these steps. Similar large boulder accents were designed into the stone walls and firepit, recalling rocky outcrops in the surrounding waters. From an environmental standpoint, and in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, any design on this vulnerable property had to be both environmentally sustainable as well as beautiful.

Elegant Country Estate, New Canaan, Conn.

The landscape program for this grand home carefully considered each experience - from the entry gates and courtyard to the entertaining areas for the home and the gardens that complement them. Large bluestone steps lead to the home's main entrance from the parking courtyard. This is defined by low stone walls flanked with a simple, clean planting style utilizing boxwood, white hydrangea, and clipped flowering pear trees. A formal herb garden creates an easy transition to the backyard outdoor living and entertaining area. A lower level includes an al fresco dining terrace, service bar and firepit gathering area. This is connected to a more formal entertaining terrace where a water feature, doubling as a spa, becomes a focal point from the home's living room.

Q&A

1. What was the pivotal or motivating factor(s) that made you choose a career in landscape architecture?
From a young age I had a great love of nature and ecology. I was lucky enough to live near beautiful woodlands, where as children we could play and explore from dawn until dusk without parents wondering where we were! I'm a child of the '70s, when Earth Day was born. This love of nature and the outdoors combined with a love of art and science led me to pursue a degree in landscape architecture. I began my studies at age 18 as a freshman at SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y.

2. What in particular do you attribute your success to?
I think part of it is my innate sensibility for design and creating balance and harmony in any given environment. So first, it's imagination and visioning"?(R)?.and then its also an ability to understand the technical aspects"?uand the attention to detail to properly execute the vision to its highest potential, while meeting the goals of the clients. Without great clients that share the vision, we don't have the opportunity to express any of it! Then of course it's having a passion for what I do. I love to see a design come to life. I love to build things and I love to see how the people we design for delight in the places we've created.

3. What career advice would you give to recently graduated landscape architectural students?
School gives you an important background, some vital tools and hopefully connects you to your inspiration for this work. It is a beginning. Always be learning. Observe your world. Notice everything, the built environment and the natural world; the confluence; sort and sift. It all becomes useful information for each new opportunity to participate in designing places for people to feel good. Wherever you choose to focus your talents in this broad profession, design with consideration, with sensitivity to people and the environment. Oh, and please learn plants and how to use them!