Landscape Architecture Portfolio

Kathryn Salfen

Personal Statement

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio

It was my sophomore year in high school when I discovered the field of landscape architecture. My English teacher assigned a career discovery project to help us write research papers and learn more about what direction to take in life. I was sitting in my agriculture science class unsure of what career I could research that would tie my passion for creativity and design into agriculture and the outdoors. I flipped through countless traditional jobs, reading page after page about being bored and sitting in an office for fifty years. I also contemplated veterinary medicine, food crops and other agriculturally related fields, but I still could not find the one that fit my personality. I began believing that I would have to settle for a field either in architecture or agriculture. As I was helping my grandma pick vegetables and care for her flower garden, I realized that I was more interested in plants and landscaping than any other part of the outdoors. That’s when I found landscape architecture. I began taking classes which I believed would help me develop design skills that I could apply to landscape architecture. My floriculture class helped me understand the art of creating flower arrangements in vases, bowls, or baskets and making bouquets and compositions from cut flowers, foliages, herbs, ornamental grasses and other botanical materials. In sculpture, I learned the basic composition of color and form in space using clay. Ornamental and environmental horticulture classes have given me knowledge of the use of floral and vegetative characteristics and terminology to identify unknown plants. I am continuing classes in college, such as beginning art, landscape design, drafting, and computer graphics that further my drawing techniques, line contours, and color composition. I have learned of the application of landscape design throughout history and in today’s development. I never realized the practicality of landscape architecture. I have grown to love learning about this field.

I have chosen to study the field of landscape architecture in order to please both my intellect as well as my love for nature. Not only can I as a landscape architect benefit the people, but I can also benefit agriculture and our natural environment. The environment provides natural beauty for the world. Landscape architecture is designed to bring that beauty to public areas for people to enjoy. Through all of my experiences in landscape architecture, I have developed many different passions that I would love to pursue. I would love to be active in the preservation and restoration of wetlands and other environmentally sensitive sites, as well as being involved in historic preservation, land reclamation, and refurbishment of existing sites. My greatest passion of all would be to develop, design and implement sustainable agricultural practices on both the local and commercial levels. Growing up on ten acres raising alfalfa and stock, I have the knowledge and understanding of the importance of agricultural practices within our environment. I know the resources required and the effect agriculture plays on the land. I also know that with the continual population growth, more and more agricultural lands, as well as land preserves, are being destroyed. Bringing this knowledge into the landscape architecture program, I want to enhance the education that would allow me to take back to the farm ideas and practices that could help with the preservation of both farmland and natural ecological systems. My education would also be applied to the development of agriculture practices that would work with the environment. Landscape architecture is such a broad discipline that all the knowledge and skills I will acquire can be implemented in any aspect of the field, no matter which area I end up perusing.

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio

Left: Drawing capturing texture and pattern of a cactus.

Pencil Sketches

Below: Sketch of an eucalyptus tree using variation of line weight to show the different details.

My drawing techniques and understanding of line weight and contour were developed in both in Art 2 and LDA 21. Such techniques are important in helping me convey what I see to my audience.

Above: Combination of texture, pattern, tone, and line variation to bring an atmosphere to the drawing.

Above: 2min. 50/50 blind contour

Above: 1min. 50/50 blind contour

Above: 5min. 80/20 blind contour

The Design Process

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio

The design of the boat house was created after a series of steps and ideas learned in LDA 21. My first step in the process was visiting the site, getting the feel of the atmosphere, and creating a concept map. From there I developed ideas and drew out a proposed site plan, which included changes I believe would be beneficial to the site. I then drew out a section plan to help further my initial idea and understand how it would be implemented. I finalized my design in black/white and colored plan oblique. Throughout the process I was able to identify the original intention and feel of the site and create a design that would reach its full potential.

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio

Right: Group project in LDA 70 which redesigned Davis 3rd street in order to provide a better connection between UC Davis downtown Davis. I created the traffic analysis map and the models were completed as a group.

My rendering skills and design process continues to be sharpened as I apply them to projects both inside and outside of the classroom. As I continue to develop projects, I further my knowledge in the importance of plant selection and material choice in relation to the site’s environment. Plant List

Year around herb garden Spring: Fall: • Strawberries • Broccoli • Radish • Brussel Sprouts • Peas • Cauliflower • Lettuce • Grapes • Artichoke • Pumpkins Summer: Winter: • Egg Plant • Cabbage • Peppers • Carrots • Melons • Onions • Zuccini • Squash • Tomatos • Citrus Above & Right: Design of a year around editable garden to occupy one of the five empty plots in the Hunt Hall courtyard.

Below: Drawing of an empty courtyard in LDA 21 to help develop rendering skill and design techniques.

Design Projects

Left: Logo & agricultural image designed for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences annual field day

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio

Right: Hand Sketch of a tree house scanned onto a computer and rendered in photoshop.

Above: Web topography map use to understand the existing conditions (right) of the PG&E Corporation Yard created in Photoshop.

I have learned design programs such as Photoshop and sketchup in LDA 23. The skills I have developed on the computer has benefited me greatly and will continue to benefit me in the future. My computer graphic skills can be adapted to many uses, whether it be rendering a hand drawn picture, mapping the existing conditions of a site, or designing my portfolio.

Above: Front view of house and yard designed in sketch-up. Left: Back view

Computer Graphics

Left: Rendering of an elevation using Photoshop.

Kathryn Salfen LDA Portfolio Above: Bamboo brush and ink pen landscape

After completing beginning sculpture and art classes I am able to fully understand the composition and form of objects in space. I have also learned how to use various types of medium with various forms of drawing techniques.

Above: Brown compressed charcoal drawing of a still life. Below: Ink hatching of still life

Above: Variety of clay sculptures including a cookie jar, monster, pitcher, tiger mask, rose, beach scene, cowboy boot & hat, bunny slipper and self box.

Art & Sculpture

Above: Negative space using charcoal Above: Tonal charcoal drawing of fabric