1938 Olmsted Brothers Update
Morgan Foods Corporate Retreat – an Olmsted Brothers Update, Austin, Indiana
Most of the following text is taken from the Kentucky Chapter of the Amercian Society of Landscape Architects Design Awards submission.
The Morgan family built a home in 1938 in Austin, Indiana. The family owned canning company was doing well. The site was designed by the Olmsted Brothers. In 2012 the current family owners decided it was time for an update. At the same time the old homestead would be updated into a retreat for the family owned business.
William E. Esarey, wee landscape architecture was commissioned for the update.
The Client
It was important to the client to stay true to the Olmsted designs. The client added new program requirements that were not considered in 1938. The two primary owners had differing design styles when it came to the new work. In addition to being true to the Olmsted intent the work needed to blend the styles of the clients, mountain west and English country.
The Research
Olmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers were commissioned by Mr. Jack Morgan, founder of Morgan Foods in 1938. The scope of their work:
Siting of the new home
Work with the architectural firm Nevin Morgan and Kolbrook, Louisville, KY
Entry road
Grading and drainage
Planting design
Gardens
Pool area
Olmsted documents and existing conditions
There are many documents that were made available from the National Park Service, Fredrick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. Half of what the Olmsted Brothers designed is still in place, the front of the site is exactly as the Olmsted Brothers designed it. The back portion reveals some mysteries. There were at least four concepts and some of the existing conditions don’t match the plans. The remnants of the pool and garden areas were not built where the multiple concepts depicted them. There are four known concepts for this area but exactly which concept is the final is unknown.
The Landscape Architects Design Approach
The landscape architect surveyed all of the remnants on site included. Items included pool location, area prepared for gardens, garden relics, existing vegetation, stone drainage channels (not a documented Olmsted detail but a similar detail for an Olmsted project in Louisville,) and a found iron gate. The LA compiled and incorporated a list of the recurring design elements that were consistent with the archive concepts.
Olmsted Brothers Program Elements and Details
Formal garden
Iris and peony garden
Garden rooms
Central garden fountain
Pool area
Gazebo overlooking the slate pond
Turf panel
Terraced steps and walls
Ashlar cut Indiana limestone paving around the pool
Circular limestone nodes at entry points
Fence and gates from found gate, undocumented
As the new design developed Esarey recognized additional program elements:
Access for mobility impaired, utility companies, caterers, event coordinators, and maintenance staff.
Outdoor entertaining, kitchen, television, sound system, lighting, and entertaining spaces for large groups of people.
Safety for party quests and children
As new program details arose, research of other Olmsted projects was completed and details such as the Biltmore pergola were employed.
Assembling the Pieces
Like the original Olmsted Brothers project which had many concepts and revisions the update was no different. The wee landscape architecture presented many options and details as the project progressed. The final design incorporated all of the original Olmsted Brothers concept document pieces. The landscape architect placed the pieces in areas that matched the intent and spaces that were prepared. The pool in its historical location, the gardens in the terraced area that was prepared, and the gazebo overlooking the slate pond.
Plant materials
The plant list for the project was made up of old fashioned garden plants from the era and commercially available native plants. The only plants mentioned on the Olmsted plans was “Iris and Peony Garden” which account for about half of the perennials used.
The finished work
The finished project not only meets the desires of the client it stays true to the Olmsted Brothers concepts.
Every attempt was made to follow the intent of the Olmsted design incorporating the design elements and details into a new function.
Every functional desire of the project was met, Olmsted concepts followed, and functions that surfaced changing a residence into a corporate retreat facility.
Environmental responsibility, trees were designed around / saved, natural water feature filter employed, native plants used, existing top soil preserved, and locally available materials incorporated.
Responsiveness to client need, Olmsted concepts followed, mountain west and English country details incorporated without compromise, and a great place for corporate events.
