university of Virginia Rotunda

OLIN was commissioned to develop proposals for the World Heritage landscape setting of Jefferson's Rotunda to complement UVA's major restoration initiative.

 The design for the landscape responds to the Cultural Landscape Report for the Grounds and builds the goals of the restoration one of which is to open the Rotunda to more regular and diverse use by the university community.

 The three landscape spaces formed have contrasting but complementary characters. The east courtyard is an intimate space with a cooling marble fountain shaped by four small groups of trees beside which are located new custom wooden benches. The west courtyard is a more open flexible space for small-scale events with four Washington Hawthorns.

 The layout of the North Terrace frames views of the Rotunda and Jefferson statue from the cardinal axes. The terrace is paved with the Ground's standard brick laid in a herringbone pattern with permeable joints to support the University's sustainability and stormwater mitigation goals. The terrace can be tented to provide a fitting setting for graduation and alumni events and has benches set within the planting to provide everyday seating. Planting comprises four groups of four fringe trees - they will flower at the time of graduation - laid out to complement the axial symmetry of the Rotunda.

Location
Charlottesville, VA

Owner
University of Virginia

Status
Completed 2017

Key Team Members
Richard Newton, Partner-in-Charge
Eve Kootchick, Project Manager
Ryan Buckley, Landscape Architect

Photography by Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto