1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
London, Ontario
EVE Park is a sustainability-minded community under development in west London, Ontario. The landscape design developed by SHIFT is an integral part of the success of EVE Park. The design is holistic and all-encompassing, accounting for how each landscape element relates to another.
The driveways and walkways at EVE Park are intended to be cohesive with adjacent vegetation, much like the built structures, they emerge from the landscape. Paving edges are varied and plant material grows along and over these edges, blurring the line between hardscape and softscape.
The courtyards are spaces that facilitate meeting others and gathering. The centre of each courtyard is divided into more intimate seating areas, with a variety of seating options to accommodate small groups. The plant palette consists of mostly native plants, chosen for seasonal interest and their ability to assist in the creation of a comfortable microclimate within each courtyard.
Outside the courtyards and residential clusters, the landscape is designed as a meadow that includes carefully sited trees and shrubs. The meadow recalls the tall-grass prairie and fields which were often found in Southern Ontario prior to European settlement. Its perennial plants provide habitat and food for many beneficial insects and birds and will provide seasonal interest throughout the year.
An important part of the site’s landscape design is the provision of edible plants at certain strategic points. There is a small apple orchard at the west end of EVE Park and berry plants throughout.
Additional photographs courtesy of S2E Technologies