Rethinking Beauty: Transforming Landscape Design with Ecological Wisdom with Hannah Pae and Kasey Toomey, TERREMOTO

<p><strong>Rethinking Beauty: Transforming Landscape Design with Ecological Wisdom</strong></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, landscape architects Kasey Toomey and Hannah Pae of TERREMOTO challenge traditional notions of garden design, emphasizing a living, evolving ecosystem that integrates native species, wildlife, and community. They share their approach to designing with humility, patience, and respect for the land, advocating for spaces that foster deep connections between humans and nature.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Topics</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Gardens as storytelling and memory-making moments that connect past and future</li><li>The importance of listening and observing before acting in landscape design</li><li>Thinking of the land and non-human species as true clients</li><li>Embracing seasonality, metamorphosis, and ecological relationships in design</li><li>Using indigenous and local materials to support native ecosystems</li><li>The concept of &quot;no final drawing&quot; — gardens as ongoing, process-driven projects</li><li>Designing public spaces that incorporate habitat and promote ecological success</li><li>Building resilience to climate change and ecological disasters, like wildfires</li><li>Challenging client expectations and shifting aesthetics towards ecological intelligence</li><li>The role of patience, humility, and adaptability in sustainable landscape practices</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 - Gardens as moments for storytelling and connection<br>02:09 - Supporting artists and literature highlighting our relationship with nature<br>03:31 - Introduction to TERREMOTO and their ecological landscape approach<br>04:46 - The non-separateness of humans and nature in design philosophy<br>07:12 - Approaching projects with patience and listening to existing ecosystems<br>09:48 - Working with native plants and understanding ecological imbalances<br>11:52 - Wildlife observation logs and seasonality in native species<br>15:05 - Rethinking beauty and the aesthetic of gardens through ecological relationships<br>17:03 - The significance of avoiding final renderings in garden design<br>18:20 - Designing public spaces that serve both humans and wildlife harmoniously<br>19:38 - The ecological success indicator: seeing predators like hawks in the space<br>21:17 - Eco-friendly water management and creating habitat with water features<br>22:22 - Communicating the value of living, process-driven landscapes to clients<br>23:50 - Initiating conversations around native species and ecological context<br>26:40 - Integrating wildlife presence (like herons) into landscape design<br>27:47 - Building gardens &#39;not for this civilization, but for the next&#39;<br>29:00 - Balancing client desires with ecological integrity and material choices<br>30:20 - The ongoing relationship with projects and monitoring ecological health<br>31:34 - Planning for resilience amid wildfires and climate disasters<br>34:45 - Selecting non-toxic, locally sourced materials for ecological safety<br>36:17 - Building systems that adapt and respond to climate change and disasters<br>37:11 - Favorite projects and the importance of gardens as ever-evolving processes<br>40:49 - The LA office garden as a living experiment and continuous learning space<br>42:49 - Final thoughts on embracing process, humility, and interconnectedness in landscape architectureResources &amp; </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Links</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://terremoto.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">TERREMOTO⁠ </a>- Landscape architecture firm based in LA &amp; SF</li><li><a href="https://davidbenjaminsherry.com/">⁠David Benjamin Sherry - Sunrise on Mesquite Flat Dunes⁠</a> - Artist supporting new perspectives on nature</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-glorians-visitations-from-the-holy-ordinary-terry-tempest-williams/3fbcbd4e78753ac8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">⁠Terry Tempest Williams - <em