Education Center at Berkshire Botanical Garden
This course meets for 8 weeks on Wednesdays, October 16 - December 11, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (No class 11/27)
Learn skills essential for effective functional garden design that honors the site and meets client needs. Led by Chuck Schnell and Walter Cudnohufsky, each week will cover a different topic or technique focusing on the importance of getting to know the client and site as a basis of effective and appealing design. Essential and easy-to-grasp design principles for those who design or install gardens will be introduced throughout the course, with the goal of practicing a form-finding approach to garden design. The tools taught will provide a vocabulary essential for assessing a property's potential and problems, and for asking the right questions to realize a client's wishes while avoiding common design mistakes. Learn how to make well-considered and sustainable choices for the elements and materials commonly used in the residential-scale garden. Students will select from instructor-provided projects and take it from creative concept to completed design plan, including site assessment diagrams, conceptual sketches and schematic drawings. Each class will involve instruction and evaluation of projects in progress and will include both class instruction and studio time. Frequent group discussions and exercises will put the skills learned into action. Students will make a formal presentation at the final class with the primary goal of conveying a coherent design narrative and process leading to proposed solutions.
Instructor - Chuck Schnell, M.A., has both a B.A.and M.A. in landscape design. He works in planning and design for Walter Cudnohufsky Associates in Ashfield, MA. He is a recipient of the Garden Club of America McLaren Fellowship to study abroad. He has strong knowledge of ornamental plants, landscape design and construction.
Guest Instructor - Walter Cudnohufsky, M.L.A., is a long-time dedicated teacher. Having founded and for 20 years directed the nationally acclaimed Conway (MA) School of Landscape Design, he has honed a reasoned approach to planning design. Currently his firm is engaged in many diverse and stimulating planning/design projects throughout the region.
BBG Members: $550, Non-Members: $590