Ken Smith’s Dumpster Gardens
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Becky |
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Architecture, Art and Artists, Design Books, Green Design, Landscape Design, Local Design, New York | 5 Comments
I was thinking about how famous Ken Smith has become in the years since I heard him speak at my school. I think I missed his visiting professorship with the fashion and landscape studio by about a year or two, which will always haunt me. However, my class was lucky enough to visit his office and take a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge with him in 1999. I remember the walls of his office were covered in bubble wrap and there was this strange gong music playing. We were drinking beers while Ken presented some of his work to us when my hilarious friend Lucia leaned over and whispered “this is my favorite song” to me and I about died trying not to bust out laughing. Anyway, I pulled out my Ken Smith book yesterday and his P.S. 19 dumpster planters brought a smile to my face. He is always coming up with creative ways to think about gardens, whether they are vertical, blooming from the pubic area (no, I am not kidding), involve chandeliers hanging over famous avenues, made out of light cones, providing specific aural and other sensory experiences, or are blooming from unexpected receptacles.
P.S. If anyone can find Ken Smith’s website, let me know so that I can provide a link. I can’t seem to find one anywhere, not even over on ASLA’s website. Thanks.
Photoshop by the offices of Ken Smith, Landscape Architect.
Photographs by Albert Vecerka. Both are from the book Ken Smith Landscape Architect Urban Projects.
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March 20th, 2008 at 6:41 am (#)
Oh my goodness. I’m speechless!
Kristal L. Rosebrook
March 20th, 2008 at 7:51 am (#)
Hey Becky,
As far as I know Ken doesn’t have a website. Isn’t that amazing?
March 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm (#)
Hey Drew! It’s rather unbelievable and VERY refreshing at the same time! I do so prefer to view projects in monographs, though the quick, easy and free website way is ridiculously convenient! Obviously, the photos would have been a lot cleaner in this post had I swiped them from his site rather than take quickie digie photos of them
Becky
March 21st, 2008 at 5:45 am (#)
[...] Design Public discusses a unique perspective on planting: Ken Smith’s dumpster gardens. [...]
October 1st, 2009 at 2:16 am (#)
sadly these PS19Q dumpster gardens are now full of weeds and trash. it would be awesome to have some architecture fans get involved and work with the school kids on stewardship! contact the school or contact me at