Michelle Derviss

Michelle Derviss replied to the topic san fransicso sacramento in the forum PLACES & SPACES 14 years, 4 months ago

Check out the new green roof at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.
From there you can walk across the concourse to the museum or the Japanese Tea Garden.
Also within a stones throw is the Botanical garden right across the main street.

There are lots of iconic landscape architectural sites to visit such as Levi plaza, , Ghirardelli…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Advice on firms / work in North Bay, CA area in the forum GENERAL DISCUSSION 14 years, 5 months ago

Hello Emily,
I work in Marin, Sonoma, Napa and occasionally The Sea Ranch. It is pathetically dead up here in regards to mid range to high end residential design. I don’t do much if any commercial work except for the occasionally winery.
Work load for my small atelier is about 65 to 75 percent down from the boom years.
The last firm that I heard…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Amazing Firms in Southern California in the forum GENERAL DISCUSSION 14 years, 8 months ago

My particular professional interest lies in innovative residential and resort landscape design so I tend to have my eye geared towards that end of the profession.

I find a tremendous amount of cutting edge talent in Southern California and try to visit S.Cal. as often as possible to view innovative new works of sculptural landscape architectural…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Landscape Architecture magazine wants to know: How are you coping with the recession? in the forum RESEARCH 15 years, 1 month ago

I’ve been in business about 27 years and have weathered other recessions with ease. I have never lacked work.
What we are experiencing is not a recession. It is a crash.
Compare it with the Great Depression and you’ll see some staggering similarities in regards to market statistics.

I have only 2 projects on my board right now and they are almost…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Anyone else think the new construction slow down is a good thing? in the forum SUSTAINABILITY & DESIGN 15 years, 2 months ago

No, I don’t agree that it is a good thing when you consider how devastating it has been for millions of families who are now without the basic human needs of adequate shelter and food.

A crisis is never a good excuse to ‘retool’ it’s social fabric.

If you are concerned with urban sprawl and the loss of farm land then this is your opportunity to…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss posted an update in the group Residential Design Group 15 years, 2 months ago

Elif,
Not all well healed clients speak the language of art or architecture.
If you use stories to relate your design charrettes then you have to speak to them in a language that they understand.
If your client is a doctor use medical metaphors. In essence you are meeting your client at a level that they feel comfortable and knowledgeable in.

In…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Ca Native Plant Identity? in the forum PLANTS & HORTICULTURE 15 years, 2 months ago

Native California Poppy.
Michelle Derviss posted an update in the group BUSINESS HELPS 15 years, 2 months ago

Hello Chris,
In regards to your question about marketing at a home or trade show, I have some experience in this realm.
20 years ago I designed and installed a small intimate garden exhibit at the San Francisco Garden Show. I had just recently moved to the Bay area and wanted to open my own design practice.
The show was a success for me.
After 5…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Portland, OR in the forum PLACES & SPACES 15 years, 2 months ago

Portland must be the up and coming ‘it’ place for those interested in landscape design.
The APLD is planning their yearly meeting there this summer and my design guild, The Hortisexuals, is planning a weekend
garden hopping soiree there this coming June.
I’ll check back in with you as soon as I get updated with some haute hort trips to take while…[Read more]
Michelle Derviss replied to the topic Favorite Tree in the forum PLANTS & HORTICULTURE 15 years, 10 months ago

Palms . Love ’em.
A fave is Bismarckia nobilis but I’d take a plain old lovely Phoenix canariensis or settle for a Licuala grandis any day.
Photo attached : Bismarckia nobilis taken in Bali Indonesia