The Architecture of Death

In the spirit of Halloween.... Carlo Scarpa's Italian Brion Cemetery is breathtaking. The memorial was meant to be not only the ultimate resting place for the Brion family but also pose as a green oasis for it's visitors to enjoy. His keen attention to detail is evidenced in every aspect of the design. On my visit, highlights were abound. Cleverly, the height of the perimeter concrete walls are level with the corn fields beyond as a means to stitch the site into it's surrounding landscape. I loved the inaccessible island of land he positioned center in a pool of water as an allegory to the afterlife. He truly used every opportunity to design each centimeter of the space which took him 10 years to complete. His affinity for the project was deeply rooted. Tucked away in a remote area, Scarpa himself is buried here, vertically.

courtyard crush

Hiding in the folds of Umbria are clutches of stone farmhouses that are caught in a web of sweeping views.   This one in particular is the bomb. 

The center courtyard fountain's nod to the Alhambra, the iconic cypress that perforate the landscape, the pergola that forms the first tread to the stepped secondary structure and the path that leads to the Smithson -inspired stone ringed olive tree .....stunning.

Assouline

Tucked away in the lobby of NYC's Plaza Hotel is a wonderful little bookshop, Assouline. Filled with the most beautiful collection of current and collectibles, you feel honored to browse. Window shop online for fabulous gift ideas to feed virtually any hobby or enthusiast. www.assouline.com

m a l - a - c h i t e

Sounds like a Russian naughty word or needs to be followed with gesundheit.... but it's the most richest of green hues.  Justin Brouwers boxwood are at the top of my dance card to represent this color lot on site....rather affectionately, I refer to this variety as "Biebers".  Stabbed with purple Provencal lavender and baby, baby, baby....

20 QUESTIONS

F O L I O

A gallery of images from my past projects for Spring design inspiration.


                                                          The Entrance Way

The Front Yard and Driveway

 

The Side Yard

The Backyard

Lesley MacAulay
macaulaylesley@gmail.com
917.542.1897
website under construction

Culturally Uplifting

West 8 designed this undulating thread which buffers Toronto's spread of Lake Ontario.  Appearing to be contorted from seismic activity,  it's pallid gesture is a unique silhouette along the monotony of pedestrian paving.  The amalgamation of form and function that play on proportion and scale.... beautility.

A Caspian Must See

Zaha Hadid's glass and reinforced concrete Heydar Aliyer Cultural Centre in Baku is splendiferous. With a Le Corbusier-like pitch, it appears that the roof structure was sown from the creases of the surrounding topography. The blur between the emerging landscape and architecture is fantastic.

Stella (r) Garden

Stella McCartney's English garden is bliss.  I love the entry court with those fabulous stone urns on pedestals mixed with terracotta planters planted with simple box domes. The wisteria whispering across the front facade and the oil and stone ground surface seem so elegant. There's a lot going on with the salvaged bench and side door but it works in an understated sophistication.

In the rear yard, her husband commissioned a garden dedicated to her in honor of their Anniversary.    The urns are filled with french lavender and double petunias and have been nestled in a sea of spring blooming alliums and tulips.



The copper beech hedge, bay trees and box highlight the Engagement Pool perfectly. Notice the trees in the background. Not even the tree pits have been overlooked.