Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden
Main Fountain Garden at Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
The Revitalization of Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden builds upon Longwood’s first-ever physical master plan, which was completed by the design team in 2011.
Termed by the client as a revitalization, not a strict restoration, “New Heights: The Fountain Revitalization Project,” replaces the 83-year-old fountains’ infrastructure with the latest technology, improves guest access to the Garden, renovates and amplifies the design of all plant material, and adds innovative new fountain and lighting elements that honor the visionary original design by Longwood Gardens founder Pierre S. du Pont. The revelation is how the design brings a sense of invitation and joy to the garden that in fact harkens back to renaissance Italian water gardens from which du Pont drew inspiration: a place to celebrate; social seating; sheltered, shady alcoves; a secret grotto; and a chance to run free and perhaps to get wet.
Careful consideration was made for inviting in a new generation of visitors, craft and quality of materiality, resilience, maintenance, expanded programming, all while honoring the original Baroque “bones.” The design harmonizes with the du Pont era while creating an array of new spaces, plazas, gardens and amenities including a hidden grotto. Custom seating, railings and shade are added where before there was none, and a new series of plazas and galleries bring guests to the south side of the site. The new public spaces will achieve a renaissance for the Garden while retaining its identity as recognizably “Longwood.”
While at West 8, Unknown Studio’s Claire Agre and Dave Zielnicki served as Principal and Senior Landscape Architect on the project, respectively. They lead the project’s landscape design and client engagement from concept through construction administration over a five-year period (2012-2017).
Project timeline: 2012 - 2017
Client: Longwood Gardens, Inc.
Project scope: Full Design Services
Project type: Garden | Culture
Size: 6 Acres
Budget: $90 Million
Team: West 8 urban design & landscape architecture, p.c.
Claire Agre, Principal & Senior Landscape Architect
Dave Zielnicki, Senior Landscape Architect
Consultants: Beyer Blinder Belle (Prime Consultant), Fluidity Design Consultants, L’Observatoire International, Urban Engineers, Landis Inc., Irrigation Consulting Inc, Keast & Hood Co.
Awards & Recognition:
Honor Award in General Design for Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2018.
Best Landscape Hardscape Urban Development Award for Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden, ENR MidAtlantic, 2018.
Trumbauer Award for Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, 2018.
Grand Jury Award for Longwood’s Main Fountain, Philadelphia Preservation Alliance, 2018.
Excellence in Concrete Award for Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden, the Decorative Concrete category, American Concrete Institute, 2018.
Construction Excellence Award for Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden, Delaware Contractor’s Association, 2017.
Best of Design Awards for Outdoor Lighting, Main Fountain Garden, Architects Newspaper, 2017.
