My Two Worlds Collide: Architecture and Fashion

As many in the San Diego AEC industry know, my background before McCullough Landscape Architecture was in the fashion industry. I have a degree from FIDM in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. Last week I experienced the moment where my two worlds actually collided – the NEWH’s Hospitality Fashion Challenge: Design in a Box – held Thursday, March 20 at FLUXX. 

The event included a fashion show and cocktail reception held during the BDWest trade show. Architects and other hospitality vendor teams presented their entry creations of couture fashions crafted from scraps of tile, carpet samples and other reusable design elements donated by BDWest exhibitors. These amazing pieces were showcased, judged and auctioned for $1,000+ in celebration of creativity and ingenuity. Proceeds were donated to the NEWH Scholarship Foundation, an organization for students in the hospitality industry. How apropos for a former fashion industry executive-turned owner of a landscape architecture firm focusing on hospitality projects to stumble on this collision. It was a lot of fun!

Who knows, perhaps I find myself involved in one of next year’s creations since several of the entries were created by a MLA client – like the one above designed by Margit Whitlock and her team at Architectural Concepts. Bravo!

--Catherine

McCullough Landscape Architecture Brings Luxury to the New Pier South Resort

The newly built beachfront resort, Pier South is now open on the previous site of the Seacoast Inn. McCullough Landscape Architecture is proud to take part in the transformation and beautification of Imperial Beach, and adds this project to its growing portfolio of hospitality properties. Hats off to our client, Pacifica Companies for this fine project!

Catherine and David McCullough

 See Pier South's beautiful resort »

Pacifica Host Hotels »

We Welcome Shawna Bortolussi to Our Staff

We are pleased to announce the addition of Shawna Bortolussi to our staff at McCullough Landscape Architecture. She graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture with minor degrees in Sustainable Environments and Dance. She has twelve years of industry experience working with several firms in Southern California. While advancing her career as a project manager, Shawna gained knowledge in retail, community development, and parks and recreation markets. She specializes in water conservation and irrigation design. Shawna is a LEED Accredited Professional and is a licensed landscape architect through the State of California.

Shawna grew up in San Diego County and resides in Carlsbad with her husband Brett. She enjoys all things creative including architecture, interior design and dance. Like most San Diegans, she loves to be outdoors, walking her dog on the beach or “playing” in her yard and garden. She’ll travel anywhere with Brett, but is delighted to explore the wonderful neighborhood we call San Diego County. We look forward to her creative talents and detail-oriented approach to landscape architecture as she joins McCullough Landscape Architecture.

Landscape Architects Find Inspiration in Boston

In mid November, we packed our bags, got the business and household in order and went to the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo “Gaining Ground” in the Cradle of Liberty…Boston. More than 6,000 professionals were in attendance, giving us a unique opportunity to interact with and be inspired by our colleagues from across the U.S. and beyond.

“The ASLA trade show is fascinating; it breathes life into our profession and offers the opportunity to meet some of the most talented people in the country. We came away from the event inspired and re-invigorated,” David McCullough commented.

Along with seminars and workshops, we spent time exploring Boston’s urban environment. Of particular interest was the “Big Dig,” a fifteen-year project that replaced the I-93 freeway bisecting the city with a three-and-a-half mile tunnel. The removal of the freeway allowed for the Rose Kennedy Greenway (see photo) that connects one end of Boston with a natural greenbelt environment.

Boston’s Big Dig resulted in its downtown becoming more livable. Sound familiar?  In our own hometown of San Diego, the Downtown Community Plan calls for a much simpler lid over I-5 one day. Anyone who has visited Boston and this new city green belt might ask, “What's the holdup? Let's make this happen…NOW!”

“The usual city paradigm has people driving downtown to work and then drive back home,” David noted upon his return from Boston. “Urban landscape architecture can help change that routine by allowing people to live and work downtown, within enhanced city neighborhoods that feature living things such as trees, shrubs and gardens that connect people with nature and make a more walkable environment.”

“As professionals, we often get distracted with the business of getting things done–focusing on deadlines,” said David. “But when visiting the ASLA Expo your perspective is broadened and it helped me realize how impactful in a positive way this profession is—it’s very invigorating.”

Learn more about Boston’s Big Dig and other landscape architecture perspectives.

Rose Kennedy Greenway Video

Big Dig Video

Landscape Architecture Magazine

Happy Holidays

McCullough Landscape Architecture 
wishes you a very colorful 
Holiday Season. 
 
Robert Frost wrote, 
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- 
I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference.
 
We wish you much success
when you take the undiscovered path this coming year.
 
David & Catherine McCullough
and the Staff at McCullough Landscape Architecture, Inc.
 
Please note, from Dec 23rd to Jan 3rd our hours are by appointment only.

Photo courtesy Susan Reimer