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ADMIT IT, YOU HAVE AN INQUIRING MIND, AND YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE TEAM DESIGNING YOUR DREAM HOME. WE UNDERSTAND THE INCLINATION. SO WE DECIDED TO BRING YOU SHOP TALK CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL SUN VALLEY PROFESSIONALS.
FROM.STUDIO
FORM.studio is always evolving and changing, just as people evolve and change. Their design philosophy takes a holistic approach to forming the land acknowledging that all of the pieces are part of a greater picture that has to knit within the fabric of the site. No two sites are the same, and therefore no two projects are the same. They are a context focused design studio curating landscapes that perfectly blend form and function with an emphasis on sustainability and sourcing local materials whenever possible. Their design love language is one of clean lines and simple forms.
ASHLEY BOAND, PARTNER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR | TIM BOWLER, PARTNER + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
WHAT LANDSCAPE DESIGN INSPIRES YOU?
Ashley: My style has evolved so much since I first started in this profession. I used to REALLY love modern landscapes. Martha Schwartz was my idol. Now, I am drawn to landscapes that have a more “lived in” feel and are more rooted in their place. Whether that be through material selections, plant palettes, or both.
Tim: When we can, we try to design for moments in a landscape that inspire or at least surprise you a little. Design that’s inspiring often catches you off-guard, which can be a product of a big reveal or intentionally framing a desired moment.
WHAT ARE SOME KEY CONCEPTS OR GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN?
Ashley & Tim: The five basic elements of landscape design are line, form, texture, color, and scale. As a studio, we believe that “form” is the element that is all encompassing of the other four; line, texture, color, and scale collectively create said “form.” Our end goal is to evoke emotion and provoke connection through our designs. We want the user to feel connected on a deeper level to people and place when they enter into a FORM.studio landscape.
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND DESIGNERS?
Ashley & Tim: Collaboration and the team approach are driving forces in our design process. As the landscape designers, it is our role to support and complement the architecture, not compete with it, and that can only be achieved by collaborating with the team from start to finish. We are a day one project team member. We can’t express that enough.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
Ashley & Tim: Our biggest challenge when starting a project is making sure we’re adjusting and coordinating with that specific project team. Just because a process worked well on a past project doesn’t mean it will work with the next one. We evolve with the needs of each client and the team.
“As the landscape designers, it is our role to support and complement the architecture, not compete with it, and that can only be achieved by collaborating with the team from start to finish.”
– TIM BOWLER & ASHLEY BOAND
HOW DO YOU CREATE FUN ON THE JOB?
Ashley: I think there is something to be said about general kindness and respect. We have the most fun because we respect what each person brings to the table and value their role. If you have a work environment that isn’t kind and respectful, how are you supposed to have fun? We couldn’t do half of what we design without our project contractors and consultants. They’re the true heroes because they make our visions come to life.
Tim: I think one of our strengths as partners is the ability to accept and embrace our faults, which in turn allows us to make fun of ourselves. We’ve spent many years in an office together and for better or for worse, our senses of humor seem to align.
HOW ARE YOU ADJUSTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
Ashley & Tim: LESS WATER! We can’t emphasize this enough. It is so frustrating driving up and down the valley seeing certain subdivisions watering their excessive lawn spaces at high noon in the middle of summer when temperatures are their highest and rising each year. The “American Lawn” is outdated and no longer the status symbol it once was. We believe the true status symbol is respecting our planet and having a landscape that shows you are conscious and aware of climate change. Easy ways to achieve this are by eliminating or greatly reducing lawns, using native or native compatible plant palettes, and introducing xeriscaping where it makes sense.
WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE ABOUT YOUR WORK?
Ashley & Tim: We don’t “just do plants.” Our role is to also ensure that the structure is intentionally set within the existing topography with as little manipulation to the existing grade as possible. Yes, we design earthen berms and form the land at times to be more interesting, but always with the intention of making it feel as “untouched” as possible. We also do A LOT of math.
IF YOU WEREN’T A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
Ashley: Fonts evoke emotion and I think typeface design is such a cool profession. I have hundreds of fonts downloaded on my laptop that serve no purpose other than that I appreciate their creative identity and the work that went into designing them. I also wouldn’t mind dabbling in fashion styling.
Tim: Graphic designer or… an outdoor guide of some kind. I really appreciate the journey/ process it takes to achieve your end goal in both fields.
WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO WHILE YOU WORK?
Ashley & Tim: You name it, we play it. You will almost always hear music playing when you walk into the office.
WHAT PLACES DO YOU FIND MOST INSPIRING?
Ashley: Places where you are truly in awe of what you are witnessing. The Pantheon, for example the grandeur, the history, the ornate detailing, and the fact that it is still a part of our modern world. As designers we can only dream of leaving such a legacy project behind.
Tim: We are surrounded by some amazing inspiration in our own backyard (specifically the western United States) that can sometimes be easy to overlook.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT LIVING HERE?
Ashley & Tim: At the end of the day, we are surrounded by people who love being in nature as much as we do, which allows us to work with people who have the same values that we do. Work hard, play harder.
whj SHOP TALK
