At Arkos Design, our projects create spaces where people can have a personal connection to the elements around them. These connections to functional spaces enrich the lives of those who interact within and around those spaces. April, World Landscape Architecture Month, allows us to look back on one of our recent projects, the pathway improvements at Holy Cross Village in Notre Dame, IN, and how it has affected the residents of that community.
First, let’s talk a bit about World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM). Established by the American Society of Landscape Architects, WLAM is a month-long international celebration of landscape architecture and designed public and private spaces. These spaces, created by landscape architects like Arkos Design, often promote and facilitate people growing together with each other as well as with nature. We celebrate the skill that goes into these designs which includes everything from scenic sidewalks to entire neighborhoods.
During the planning and creation of this project, Arkos Design collaborated with the Owner and focused on the residents; how to enrich their daily lives, and how to incorporate therapeutic value into each element. The Holy Cross Village pathway improvements provide a continuous woodland loop with a river overlook around Dujarié House and Schubert Villa on campus. Key to the project was replacing narrow sections for accessibility and ease of maneuvering/passing, as well as adding benches and seating areas.
Key Project Features include:
Woodland loop with a river overlook
Replaced narrow sections for accessibility and ease of maneuvering/passing
Benches and seating areas provide places for rest
Landscape and boulders add beauty and safety to steep slopes
Currently, the residents enjoy a wellness program entitled “HCV Health: The Golden Path to Wellbeing.” The program breaks activities down into components such as Active, Interactive, Learning, and Interior, allowing residents to prioritize their individual needs. We celebrate the Holy Cross Village Pathway for facilitating growth with each other and with nature. It is a fantastic example of a project that creates a community in which people feel a sense of belonging, can reach a deeper connection to nature, and find growth through social relationships within that space. It showcases exactly how landscape architecture can make a significant difference in our lives.
What does landscape architecture mean to you? Drop us a note. We’d love to hear your thoughts about World Landscape Architecture Month!
