91视频

A vibe that has long been part of Oregon culture seems to come from a tendency to integrate the indoor spaces in which people live and work with the outdoor spaces that define the state.

For four decades, beginning in the 1930s, the landscape architecture firm of Lord & Schryver defined that concept.

Formed by Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the firm gained attention in its early days for being Oregon鈥檚 first women-owned landscape architecture firm. Before long, though, Lord & Schryver earned a reputation for its quality work, especially in the Salem area.

The gardens and landscaping left behind by the firm are limited mainly to Deepwood Estates in Salem and a handful of private gardens in the city. But Lord & Schryver has endured, nonetheless, as an inspiration to modern designers, landscapers and architects.

Members of Salem-based Arbuckle Costic Architects are among the inspired. Architect Blake Bural and others at the firm 鈥� including principal Alan Costic, Carol Smith, Eric Kittleson and Susan Houston 鈥� have become involved in a grassroots effort to continue and promote the ideology of Lord & Schryver in Salem.

鈥淲e were approached by a group of volunteers and saw merit in their ideas; we got kind of excited about it, actually,鈥� Bural said.聽鈥淲e formed a team, and now it鈥檚 about getting the word out.鈥�

Streetscaping, according to Lord & Schryver principles 鈥� integrating organic, human, commercial and structural elements into a cooperative design 鈥� is the focus of the architecture firm鈥檚 efforts to recreate a modern-day version of a Lord & Schryver plan for downtown Salem.

Working with property owners, businesses and city government, Arbuckle Costic鈥檚 plan is to develop a streetscape that will create a linear park from the state capitol to Willamette University, and continue along several additional downtown blocks.

鈥淒owntown Salem is blessed with wide streets that were originally designed to allow a horse and buggy to turn around,鈥� Costic said in describing the elements of the streetscape plan.聽鈥淭hat鈥檚 as wide as (Interstate 5).聽We can still maintain two lanes of traffic and integrate bike lanes, more efficient parking and more green space.

鈥淭he idea is to slow vehicle traffic by making it visually interesting.聽This gives drivers more time to read the signs so that they become more aware of what goods and services are available downtown.鈥�

While the streetscape plan pays tribute to the historic vision of Lord & Schryver, it also takes modern-day needs into account. One design option, for example, places new bike lanes between sidewalks and vehicle parking, creating a buffer that helps maintain traffic flow and creates a natural transition from street to bike lanes to pedestrian areas.

Costic said the project team hopes to find financial support from urban renewal sources as well as from the state.

鈥淲e鈥檙e working with elected officials and citizens alike,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easier because everyone likes the idea.鈥�