LAND COLLECTIVE’s First Anniversary
Conceived of in Rome and born in Philadelphia, February 12, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of LAND COLLECTIVE. We continue to surprise ourselves with successes – small and large – and are taking in the joy that collaboration with so many wonderful people brings. It is because of these meaningful relationships that LAND COLLECTIVE’s work is so richly rewarding and creative. We’re practicing in cities across the United States: Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, as well as internationally in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. As we look forward to establishing a legacy rooted in empathy, creativity, fun, and collaboration, here are some of the milestones of our first year:
Upon returning from his Roman renaissance at the American Academy in Rome, Founding Principal David Rubin formed LAND COLLECTIVE – a studio envisioned with an inclusive, collective consciousness. In March, David was invited to participate in the 2013 Mayors’ Institute on City Design National Conference in New Orleans, where he developed relationships with some of our closest collaborators.
In June, LAND COLLECTIVE was asked to create a vision for the historic landscape of the Villa Ludovisi estate in Rome. And later that summer, the studio collaborated with Eisenman Architects, where we assisted in adding poetry to the submission for the Taichung Cultural Center Competition.
This Fall, David Rubin’s design for Canal Park* received SITES™ status, making it one of seven places in the country to receive such a distinction. During Greenbuild in Philadelphia, David led a tour of Lenfest Plaza at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In the same month, LAND COLLECTIVE debuted at the American Society of Landscape Architects’ National Convention in Boston presenting Eskenazi Health Hospital and other projects in the context of a panel titled “Food For Thought: Productive Landscapes in the Public Realm”. And this winter, we found a way to beat the cold in Philly: we re-established our presence in California, with two academic projects and a public park in Los Angeles.
Happy Anniversary, LAND COLLECTIVE! We want to thank our collaborators and colleagues for such a momentous first year of practice. It is because of you that our adventure is possible, and we are humbled by your enthusiastic response to LAND COLLECTIVE’s design approach and studio culture. Thank you for believing in us.