Uncategorized - DG2 Design

Sep 22 2021

Outdoor Dining is Brewing

By Kristy DeGuire

Over the past few years, outdoor dining has become a much needed amenity. These spaces with additional areas for socialization, has been one of DG2’s largest growing landscape architecture markets. Most recently, we have teamed with 4 Hands Brewery, Eddy Design Group and Castle Contracting to develop a proposed location in Kirkwood.

This location would give 4 Hands Brewery its second location and provide three-season outdoor dining, gathering, and social areas. These areas will be for all ages and abilities. Current concept plans include a large food and beer garden that connects to the existing caboose and adjacent public space. Ramps connecting the spaces will also provide mini rooms throughout the landscape. While directly connected to a well-known brewery, this proposed outdoor area has the potential to tap into something that could be a destination spot. Brews included.

For further reading, check out the article with more details.

Apr 23 2019

Creative Playgrounds

Getting children to play outside is so important during this time of technology driven minds. Playing outside has positive effects on mind and body and there are numerous articles, reports and studies to prove it. So how do you encourage creative play? Maybe by thinking outside the box.

Playgrounds don’t have to be your traditional plastic jungle gym. Wood, rocks and other outdoor elements can spark just as much energy and play.

Take a look at some that we at DG2 have had in some of our projects. What is your favorite?

Slide on the side of an embankement

Promo photographs for Kristy DeGuire -DG2 Design Landscape Architecture

Tree climbing

Boulder climbing

Children’s tunnel house

Feb 11 2019

Pollinator Gardens

I recently became interested in pollinator gardens when I was doing some research about it for one of our ongoing projects. I got so much information from Missouri Botanical Garden and Saint Louis Zoo about how important a pollinator garden is and how to create one for yourself and for the environment.

First of all, choose a location for your pollinator garden. You can attract much more varieties of pollinators if you choose a sunny spot for your garden. The location needs to be located in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Second, pick the plants for your pollinators. Choose native plants in Missouri or wherever you live. Native plants are adapted to local weather, they need less water and maintenance and they provide the best food for pollinators. Try to be diverse, pick a large number of varieties and make sure there’s always something in bloom from April to October.

Finally, you can start creating your pollinator garden! Be sure that you don’t use any chemicals such like pesticide and herbicides, they kill pollinators. Here are some beautiful and powerful native flowers that often used in pollinator gardens: Butterfly milkweed, Blue wild indigo, Aromatic aster, Eastern blazing star, Slender mountain mint, Cliff goldenrod and Purple coneflower.

Why is creating a pollinator garden important to the environment as well as human beings? More than 150 crops in the United States depend on pollinators. Pollinators transfer pollen from one plant to another and flowers use the pollen to produce seeds. Food such as apples, berries, cucumbers and almonds wouldn’t exist without these pollinators. There is no limitation of how big or how small your pollinator garden is, a few plants can make some difference to this world. I actually got some native flower seeds in the weekend and started to have a small pollinator garden on my balcony this spring!

Information from:

https://mdc.mo.gov/xplor/2017-03/how-plant-pollinator-paradise

https://www.stlzoo.org/conservation/doityourselfconservation/pollinators

images from:

https://umdearborn.edu/casl/centers-institutes/environmental-interpretive-center/research-resources/sustainability-initiatives/pollinator-garden

https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/create-pollinator-friendly-garden-birds-bees-butterflies/

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/pollinator-cedar-raised-garden-bed/8597000.html

https://www.berkeleygardenclub.org/1718-programs/2017/10/17/growing-a-habitatpollinator-garden

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80651083@N00/1642322091

Sep 06 2018

From Llamas to Masterplans

Design trends are constantly changing, but one thing that is certain, is that outdoor venues with intimate gathering spaces and smaller architecture dwellings have become the top choice for events, weddings and photo shoots.

(image source)

Ces and Judy’s Catering company bought what was once a llama farm and has turned it into a beautiful natural event space with elements of a soaring contemporary building designed by Tao + Lee Associates, 25 acres of land and water views, as well as on site historic stone buildings. The Venue at Maison du Lac was a vision between all parties involved, including DG2 Design and their master plan concept, and with an historic past, you can now have your wedding or event at a destination that is unique to the St. Louis Area.

Conceptual Masterplan

The Venue at Masion du Lac by Tao + Lee Architects

(image source)

Aug 16 2018

Let the Kids do the Work

By: Christina Hughey

Source

Imagine kids designing their own playgrounds. What kind of things do you think they would include? A giant slide? Tunnels for days? How unique these playgrounds would be! Although not as common, it has been done before and its possible for kids to help with the design work! What a magnificent learning experience too.

There are multiple ways kids can help with designing the playground. Kids can help with the brainstorming process, they can help with figuring out the layout, help pick out colors and materials and more. Its important to ask kids questions that make them think outside of the box. If you don’t, they will give very generic feedback and maybe not show their full creativity when answering the question. A question like “What would you like to see on your playground” just won’t work. Instead ask questions like “What’s the scariest thing you have ever done?” “What’s the highest you have ever climbed” “If you could be anywhere right now where would you be?” These questions will really get the ball rolling and help more with the design process! Kids will feel proud to have helped design the playground. This will not only encourage creativity but also will encourage more exercise in the great outdoors!

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