A 1927 Beaus Arts building which houses a retirement community in the western end of San Francisco was looking to remodel an outdated and changing garden space. RMA was retained to work with the Ardenwood community to create a newly visualized outdoor environment. The site was located on 90 feet of 100 year old un-compacted rubble fill. The space to be designed contained sandy soils that were ½ mile from the Pacific Ocean. Security and safety concerns in the landscape spaces were of paramount importance to the residents. RMA created a Master Plan where new landscape spaces speak to a romantic landscape period in American history while respecting the sites current objectives.
Winding pathways offer ample opportunity for contemplation and viewing of numerous plant collections. Seating and lighting were given careful consideration for form and placement. Roses were given a special location for community interaction. New parking, lighting, fencing and security measures helped create a safe landscape environment for those that were mobility impaired. The landscaped spaces were designed to withstand the strong ocean influences of wind, fog, salt spray and sandy soil conditions. Residents frequent the outdoor spaces daily and find the gardens deeply enriching to their lives.
