VAREY GARDEN | SEATTLE, WA
Site:
The Varey Garden is located behind Gould Hall - which is the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington. The site is relatively flat and is towered on the north side by Gould, and flanked on the east by 15th Avenue. 15th Avenue is heavily travelled by pedestrians and motorists. A metro bus stop is immediately northeast of the site.
Uses:
The projected primary use for the garden is to memoralize Mr. Gordon Varey and his wife Mary Varey. Gordon was Dean of Architecture at the UW. This project was implemented as a student and is a collaborative design build studio, which is the LARC 475 Course at the UW Department of Landscape Architecture. Learning the design and build process among course participants, as well as creating a space for the public, students and faculty, were primary goals of the project.
Concept:
The design concept is based on an interplay of forms and materials that convey a sense of weight and movement.
Elements:
A stone wall pierces the central circular grassy mound. Across from the stone wall, a hedge also pierces the mound. Perforated screen walls encircle the space and create a sense of movement, while massing of bench forms provide a sense of weight.
