Longue Vue House & Gardens

Natural Disaster ▪ Rapid Response ▪ Sustainable Recovery

Heritage Landscapes US/ICOMOS

Patricia
12th US/ICOMOS M. O’Donnell,
International FASLA, AICP,Longue
Symposium IFLA, Vue
ICOMOS
House & Gardens
Preservation Landscape Architect & Planner
 Longue Vue House & Gardens

• National Historic Landmark

• Edith and Edgar Stern, Owners
• Designed, 1939-1965
• Masterwork of Ellen Biddle
Shipman with Platt Brothers,
Caroline Dormon
• Last Country Estate, 7acres
• Adjacent to breached canal
• Inundated, water toxicity
• Extensive wind damage
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 1997 Historic Landscape Report
• History-Existing-Analysis-Direction
• Longue Vue Foundation
– This was a magic place, help us
recapture that magic
• Collaborative team effort
– Heritage Landscapes
– Robin Karson & Neil Odenwald
• Phased recapture c.1969
landscape character
• Phase 1: Wild Garden
1997 Landscape Plan
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Hurricane Katrina
• Trees damaged by high winds
• Flooding destroyed 2/3 of garden plantings
• Failed electrical & irrigation systems
• Widespread damage, tree losses, saltwater
• Hardest hit area, Wild Garden

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Heritage Landscapes Outreach
• Landscape often Overlooked in
Disaster Response, Recovery
• Background 1997 HLR & Wild
Garden Restoration
• Assisted in Estimating Damage $1M
• Contacted Getty Colleague
• Landscape Renewal Plan
– Partnered with The Garden Conservancy,
Bayou Tree Service, Nature Station
– 3-Day Intensive Work Session
• View Hurricane Damage as
Opportunity to Recapture c1969
Landscape Character

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 2007 Landscape Renewal Plan
• Project Scope for Renewal:
– Collection of Existing Conditions
Information, Post-Katrina
– Analysis of Historic Period
Conditions versus Post-Katrina
– Identification of historic losses
and damaged remnants
– Targeting of opportunities to
recapture features & character
– Recommendations for Future
Directions Based on Historic and
Existing Conditions

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Renewal Plan Outcomes
• Built Upon 1997 HLR
• Trained LV staff to Inventory of
Existing Trees, Shrubs &
Groundcovers
• Recommendations for 16
Garden Areas
• 5 Areas Priority Projects
– Entrance Drive, Main Lawn &
Oak Allée, Spanish Court, Wild
Garden
• Plan of Action for Grant Funds
GOAL- Recapture c1969
Landscape Character
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Overall Tree Recommendations

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Entrance Drive
• Existing Condition: Overgrown Pines, Cluttered Understory
• Recommendations: Remove & Replace Pines In-Kind and In-Location;
Remove Understory; Simplify Groundplane, ferns blubs

1968 2006
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Entrance Drive Character, 2009

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Main Lawn & Oak Allée
• Existing Condition: Canopy Loss, Shortened Views Over Lawn
• Recommendations: Prune & Repair Trees, Replant Oaks in
Major Decline, Remove Understory to Open Views

1950s Katrina Damage

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Main Lawn & Oak Allée

1968 2006
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Main Lawn & Oak Allée
Enlarged Sense of Space, 11 March 2009

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Landscape Axes Analysis
To Recapture Post Katrina
Shipman design strong axes Altered & lost in 1997

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Landscape Axis Whim House
Fountain Pump Rehabilitation

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Boxwood Garden & Spanish Court
• Existing Condition: Missing Framing Vegetation &
Saltwater Boxwood Death, Open, Loss of Definition
• Recommendations: Complete Saline Remediation Soil
Work, Replant Boxwoods, Near East Crape Myrtle,
Oaks & Pines for Massing

2006
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Boxwood Garden & Spanish Court

1970s

1970s 2009
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Walled Garden
Existing Condition:
Loss of Tree
Canopy,
Replanted
Understory & 1950s 2005
Groundcovers
Recommendations:
Plant Historic
Trees at Wall
Corners, Prune
Citrus for Tracery
2006 2009
12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens
 Wild Garden
Highly Degraded
Existing Conditions:
Saline Toxic Soils
Lost Trees & Shade
Failed Irrigation
Invasive Weed Growth
Scarce Plants 1950 2006

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Wild Garden Recommendations

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Wild Garden Renewal
• SSHT Staff Grant Louisiana Iris Collection
• New Trees & Native Shrubs, Shade Issue

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens

 Lessons Learned: Used Disaster to Spur
Landscape Restoration
With Lemons, Make Lemonade:
ƒ Requires Teamwork, Build Partnerships
ƒ Commit Board/Staff
ƒ Seek Funders
ƒ Recognize Renewal as Step-by-Step
ƒ Base Vision on Historic Character
ƒ Choose Priorities
ƒ Direct All Efforts to Goals
ƒ Relieve Clean-up with Planting
ƒ Be Patient but Diligent
ƒ Celebrate Results

12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium Longue Vue House & Gardens