Eastsound, Washington
The Orcas public library has long been an important place in the physical and cultural heart of the Island community. When we were called on to be part of its extensive expansion and renovation we saw it not only as a creative opportunity, but also as an honored civic responsibility.
This project called for an elegant natural design that would echo the powerful native ecosystem while bringing a sense of the cultivated civilization that a library represents. We envisioned plantings that soothed visitors with a play of structure, texture and movement, and greeted with a simple friendliness to the gaze and touch. The functional mandate was for drought tolerance, deer resistance, and low maintenance.
The result; a soothing matrix of dozens of grass species undulates in the near-constant Eastsound breeze. Dwarf Bristlecone pines, spiked Yucca, fragrant Rosemary and seasonal drifts of tough perennials like Iris, Allium and Russian sage arise from the sea of grasses, creating a dynamic ecosystem for beneficial insects and birds who find food and shelter there. Island kids play amongst the soft grasses, jumping from rounded boulders. We feel honored to provide islanders of all kinds with a beautiful, natural sense of place that holds them as they gather, explore and learn.
Design: Emily Aring/Kabloom 2018
Excavation/Stone/Collaboration: Monty Coffey/The Woodsmen