How might one verbalize the uniqueness of this place and its landscape evolution? How does one know where one is? What are the elements, the political underpinnings, the actors and artisans? Who are the stewards, the champions, and the landscape architects who hold responsibility for enhancing the collective quality of life here?

Might one respond with language embroidered with plant materials, natural resources, and sustainability? Does it include commentary on the urban growth boundary, wilderness lands, the protection and preservation of natural spaces, or building materials? What is unique about our region’s approach to landscape design and the environment? Perhaps it is simply a quiet comment of why one chooses this place above all others.

Garnering a variety of intricate responses to these questions, the Oregon Chapter of ASLA wishes to engage the design community on a 15-month journey traversing a multitude of scales. From urban to rural, garden to open space, this project will take an evocative look at the uniqueness of Pacific Northwest Design, reveal important influences, explore concepts and theories, and acknowledge those practitioners and works that have contributed to the greatness of our region.