How Do the Stimsons Harmonize Structure and Wildness in Landscape Design?
Lauren and Stephen Stimson, the married partners behind the landscape architecture firm Stimson, have created a unique approach to landscape design that harmonizes structure and wildness. Their homestead, Charbrook, located in rural Massachusetts, serves as their home, workspace, and design lab. The name Charbrook symbolizes the balance they seek between nature and structure, with “char” representing a flame and “brook” representing a clear rush of water. This balance is a metaphor for the harmonious tension between wildness and grooming that characterizes their approach to landscape design.
The Stimsons’ Design Philosophy
Blending Aesthetics and Functionality
The Stimsons’ work exemplifies a blend of aesthetics and functionality, where neat lines and modern structures coexist with natural, unrefined garden beds. Stephen’s inspiration comes from his mentors, renowned modernists Dan Kiley and Michael Van Valkenburgh, who believed in organized, structured landscapes. In contrast, Lauren’s influences come from ecologists and environmentalists who prioritize the practical benefits of landscape design, such as creating stormwater basins for water filtration.
Their home, designed with the collaboration of Dewing Schmid Kearns Architects + Planners and Estes/Twombly Architects, features elements like a clipped hornbeam hedge framing the perennial and vegetable garden. This is juxtaposed with Lauren’s wildlife-friendly, native plant hedgerow along the driveway. The driveway itself illustrates their differing philosophies: Stephen’s side has a structured row of Autumn Blaze maples, while Lauren’s side features a more natural thicket that serves as a habitat for various animals. This visual interplay of structured versus wild elements showcases the couple’s ability to blend divergent influences into a cohesive, functional design that respects both human and ecological needs.
Collaborative Operations
The core of Stimson’s operations is collaborative, involving three additional principals and a team of 40 professionals who collectively handle approximately 120 projects annually. While the firm has attracted prestigious clients, including AD100 firms such as Ashe Leandro, Clements Design, Olson Kundig, and RP Miller, it draws heavily upon the Stimsons’ contrasting yet complementary visions. Their projects, marked by extensive planning and illustrations, unfold over several years, requiring thorough compromise and dialogue akin to a strong marriage.
This collaborative ethos extends beyond mere professional engagement to include deep personal commitment and shared values among the team members. Each project becomes a reflection of the firm’s collective intelligence, where team input and rigorous dialogue enrich the creative process. This culture fosters not only innovative design solutions but also a supportive work environment where individual strengths and unique perspectives are valued and harmonized. By leveraging their shared vision and teamwork, the Stimsons can tackle complex, multifaceted projects that might otherwise be daunting for a less cohesive group.
Sustainable and Ecologically Responsible Practices
Charbrook as a Testing Ground
At the heart of their work is a shared commitment to sustainable and ecologically responsible landscape practices. Their property, Charbrook, has become a testing ground for these ideas. Since acquiring the land, the couple has focused on reclaiming it from overgrowth and invasive species, preferring an organic, evolving approach over a rigid master plan. This approach reflects their belief in the importance of allowing landscapes to develop organically.
Historically, Stephen has deep roots in the area, with family ties stretching back 12 generations to when his ancestors managed a large dairy farm nearby. The Stimsons now operate a nursery on part of this ancestral land, while other family members manage the remaining acres. Lauren also has familial connections to the region, having grown up just a couple of towns away and now living across the street from her parents, who met through her father’s work with the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Their personal history is deeply interwoven with the local landscape, reinforcing their commitment to stewarding the land responsibly and ensuring its health and vitality for future generations.
Rewilding and Ecological Restoration
One of the underlying themes of their work is “rewilding”—a process of restoring ecosystems to their natural, undisturbed state to promote biodiversity and ecological health. This mission has gained recognition, evident in accolades such as the American Society of Landscape Architects naming Stimson as the firm of the year in 2021 and Lauren’s nomination as a Fellow in Landscape Architecture at the American Academy in Rome. Their commitment to rewilding is seen throughout their various projects, where the goal is not only to beautify but also to heal and rejuvenate the land.
During Lauren’s fellowship in Rome, the family spent six months in Italy, giving Charbrook a period of rest where the natural landscape started to assert itself again. This period away allowed Lauren to study, paint, and contemplate the future. This break reinforced the Stimsons’ vision to use their farm more effectively as a venue for testing new design strategies, educating peers, and fostering community around sustainable land management. By allowing Charbrook to experience this respite, the couple could observe the land’s natural regenerative capabilities, further informing their approach to landscaping that embraces ecological processes and resilience.
Projects and Contributions
Academic and Public Spaces
Stimson’s impressive portfolio encompasses a broad range of projects, from restoring an endangered oak savanna and brush forest ecosystem at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, Texas, to rebuilding a riverbed in Cleveland’s Doan Brook watershed. Their work also includes significant contributions to academic campuses such as Harvard, Brown, Northeastern, MIT, Boston College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where the Stimsons have initiated a scholarship fund aimed at increasing diversity within the landscape architecture field.
These projects demonstrate the broad application of the Stimsons’ philosophies, integrating both aesthetic beauty and ecological functionality. Their work on academic campuses, for example, not only enhances the visual appeal of these environments but also addresses practical concerns such as water management, habitat creation, and sustainability. By enriching public and educational spaces with thoughtful, ecologically minded design, the Stimsons contribute to broader community well-being and environmental stewardship, influencing how future generations interact with and appreciate the natural world.
Integrating Structure and Wildness
Lauren and Stephen Stimson, a married couple, are the innovative minds behind the landscape architecture firm Stimson. They have developed a distinctive approach to landscape design that marries structure with wildness. Their homestead, Charbrook, situated in rural Massachusetts, functions as their residence, workplace, and experimental design lab. The name Charbrook encapsulates the balance they aim for: “char” symbolizes a flame, while “brook” indicates a clear stream of water. This name serves as a metaphor for the equilibrium they strive to achieve between the untamed aspects of nature and the meticulous grooming required in their designs. At Charbrook, Lauren and Stephen seamlessly merge elements of natural, uncontrolled landscapes with thoughtfully planned structures, promoting a harmonious tension that defines their work. Their practice exemplifies a respect for the inherent wildness of the environment while imposing just enough order to create purposeful and beautiful landscapes. Their vision is about preserving nature’s spontaneity within the bounds of human creativity.
