Michel-Schlumberger is an iconic winery with a long history in Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Valley. With unmistakable Spanish Colonial architecture, it is instantly recognizable in photos. The landscapes have traditionally drawn directly from this history with mass lavender plantings and formal hedges, however under new ownership the winery sought out our sustainable design build services to tell a new story. The request was to create something innovative yet tasteful, seasonal interest but with a year round foundation. While we have respect for tradition, we were exhilarated with the opportunity to reenvision what was a tragically boring landscape into an artistic statement.
Taking inspiration from the central fountain and the interaction of the ripples on the water’s surface as it dripped four separate streams of water into the glassy surface, we designed the landscape to mimic this patterning. As visitors enter the courtyard, they are met with a grand Yucca rostrata across the fountain drawing their eyes across the space to a central focal point. The remainder of the plant palette is laid out using mathematical variations of the golden ratio creating concentric circles centered on this Yucca rostrata and playing out across the various beds in the courtyard.
This type of background vision and using mathematics to mimic nature is a hallmark in our design process and usually is shrouded behind more naturalistic patterns, however in this courtyard we didn’t shy away from showcasing symmetry in the layout. Yet by utilizing spreading succulents in combination with robust statement plants such as Ecinocatus grusonii, Agave lophantha, and Colocasia esculenta, we allowed the symmetry to take on its own flowing personality in the space. Over time as the plants spread and weave between each other, the lines become blurred just as light appears passing through ripples on the water. The symmetry of the layout taps into the observer’s brain without fully registering, there is a patterning lying just below the surface which indicates organization with a hint of mystery.
