Return to Nature
Symbolism Inspires Bockholt Landscape Architecture’s Vision
by Jennifer Walton
Landscape architecture shapes the aesthetic appeal, functionality, and enjoyment of residential spaces. It goes beyond mere decoration, encompassing thoughtful design strategies that integrate nature with built environments to create harmonious and purposeful outdoor settings. Landscape architecture’s significance in transforming homes into personalized, inviting retreats that enhance visual appeal, promote well-being, and enrich everyday living experiences is why Bockholt Landscape Architecture approaches every project with dedication and commitment. Designing and cultivating outdoor lifestyles is how they contribute to the quality and value of every residential and commercial space.
Bockholt, Inc., founded in Park City over a decade ago, is more than a landscape architecture firm. It’s a collaborative hub that brings together strategic partners to plan and execute projects that capture people’s hearts and bring landscape architecture and its benefits to residential and commercial projects by solving multiple big-picture endeavors, from engineering to water resources.
“The inspiration for this landscape project came directly from the owner’s brief. During preliminary project discussions, we developed a vision statement,‘Return to Nature.’ So, we knew we had to design and build a micro-wilderness that would seamlessly blend into the landscape and nestle in the owners’ program elements of a small lawn for their dog, outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit.”
–Seth Bockholt, Principal Landscape Architect, Bockholt Landscape Architecture
Founder and principal landscape architect Seth Bockholt understands that a landscape should be beautiful and practical. That’s why carefully balancing aesthetic elements like gardens, pathways, water features, and outdoor structures with functional elements such as outdoor living spaces, play areas, vegetable gardens, and proper drainage systems is crucial to ensuring that the landscape serves multiple purposes efficiently, maximizing usability and practicality. A well-designed landscape brings nature closer to home, fostering a deeper connection with the natural environment, with green spaces, trees, and plants improving the aesthetic while contributing to a healthier and more sustainable living environment.
Add patios, decks, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens that extend the usable area of the home into the outdoors, and he knows that personalizing a property reflects the homeowner’s tastes and needs and makes any space more meaningful.
“The inspiration for this landscape project came directly from the owner’s brief. During preliminary project discussions, we developed a vision statement, ‘Return to Nature.’ So, we knew we had to design and build a micro-wilderness that would seamlessly blend into the landscape and nestle in the owners’ program elements of a small lawn for their dog, outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit,” says Bockholt. By executing this project with their design-build partnership model, Bockholt led with design and construction oversight by collaborating with landscape contractor Damian Dennison of Dennison Landscaping, Randy McLachlan and Sons Concrete, Shaun Cameron of Hidden Peak Metal Works, and Mike Mecham of Outdoor Kitchen Concepts to achieve a symbolic connection between the owners’ diverse backgrounds.
“All plants chosen were either native or xeric/drought-tolerant species”
–Seth Bockholt, Principal Landscape Architect, Bockholt Landscape Architecture
“My clients were a couple, one Hispanic, the other Nordic, and both proud of their unique heritage. One of two concepts I developed and was chosen to pursue emphasized a cross symbol, a symbolic connection between these traditions found throughout Spanish and Nordic art and architecture. I love the idea of imbuing meaning into the landscape through symbolism. The cross, symbolizing the four cardinal directions and seasons, is also commonly used by the indigenous Ute-Ouray and Shoshone people who originally inhabited this valley,” Bockholt shares. “So, the basketweave paving pattern smartly gives a nod to this connection, and the cross in the paving is a focal set within the basket weave, doubling as the plinth for a sculpture that was an alternative to the reflecting pond we originally proposed.”
Effective communication is an essential element in the process. A collaborative approach encourages a positive working relationship that extends to the functional aspects of the landscape, ensuring that it meets the users’ needs while maintaining aesthetic appeal. “We used the same iterative process we do for all our clients. We guided them through two conceptual options: scaled layouts and perspective sketches. We revised the preferred direction, moving the design into CAD with a larger format layout and digital renderings. This master plan was presented to the HOA for approval and pricing by our build partners. Once HOA approval was achieved, we moved the project into design development and construction documentation with a final pricing round and subsequent permitting. We believe that design should be continuous throughout the build, and we remain actively involved in developing sketches, updating the design, and responding to any changes during the build,” Bockholt explains.
By prioritizing biodiversity, reducing water consumption, and promoting ecological balance, Bockholt’s sustainable landscape design integrates resource efficiency and ecosystem health to create outdoor spaces that minimize negative environmental impacts while maximizing benefits for humans and nature. It involved careful selection of native plants and efficient water management techniques. “All plants chosen were either native or xeric/drought-tolerant species,” he says. “We minimized the required lawn area and depressed it in the grade to serve as a detention basin so the water-hungry grass is supplemented by the site stormwater management strategy. Irrigation is pulled from a local canal ditch rather than the culinary source. Soil remediation is always a part of sustainable site strategy.”
“We minimized the required lawn area and depressed it in the grade to serve as a detention basin so the water-hungry grass is supplemented by the site stormwater management strategy. Irrigation is pulled from a local canal ditch rather than the culinary source. Soil remediation is always a part of sustainable site strategy.”
–Seth Bockholt, Principal Landscape Architect, Bockholt Landscape Architecture
As Bockholt Landscape Architecture continues to shape residential and commercial spaces with its holistic approach, the fusion of aesthetics and functionality remains at the forefront. By collaborating with partners and embracing diverse cultural influences, Bockholt exceeds clients’ expectations through meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to sustainable practices that transform outdoor environments into personalized havens.
In the Mountain West, where rugged landscapes meet vibrant communities, landscape architecture is part of the region’s identity. Against the backdrop of mountains and wilderness, homeowners view their outdoor spaces as extensions of themselves, expressing their personalities through carefully curated landscapes. Beauty isn’t just a luxury but also a fundamental aspect of mountain living, reflecting values of harmony with nature and individuality. Bockholt understands this unique dynamic, crafting outdoor environments that captivate the eye and resonate deeply with the spirit of the land and its inhabitants.
