Tour is Limited to 24 People
DAY 1: Friday May 9, 2008*
Beginning at 9am
Opening Presentation
Mitchell Park (Palo Alto)
Lunch – Dinah’s Motor Hotel
Santa Clara Civic Center
Santa Clara Central Park
Day 2: Saturday May 10, 2008*
Beginning at 9am
Reception at 5:30pm
Presentation of St. Mary’s Square Park (San Francisco)
Pettit Garden (Piedmont)
Estates Reservoir (Piedmont)
Lunch
Wilsey/Coyne Garden (San Rafael)
Reception at the Royston house & garden (inlcudes tour of the neighboring Stein house & garden)
* Please note that this is a tenative itinerary as of March 1, 2008.
Gallery of Royston's Public and Private Landscapes >
in Northern California
The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) is pleased to offer a unique tour of public and private landscapes of one of California’s leading post war landscape architects - Robert Royston.
These astonishing landscapes, often unpublished, and as a result little-known, can be found in and around Santa Clara, Richmond, Palo Alto, and Mill Valley. To be held May 9-10, in honor of Mr. Royston’s 90th year, this truly “once in a lifetime” tour is being sponsored by TCLF, ASLA, and Garden Design magazine.
Robert “Bob” Royston has designed hundreds of parks and gardens over a career that spans more than half a century. As one of the original group of practicing post war California landscape architects, his projects reveal and reflect the Modernist vocabulary of this period. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area and educated at the University of California, Berkeley, his astonishing career has included professional practice with Thomas Church, Garrett Eckbo, Ed Williams, and others. Robert Royston’s firm, Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey, has been active since 1979. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including the ASLA Medal in 1989 — the highest honor bestowed by the Society.
This two-day excursion offers the opportunity to visit and learn about Royston’s most innovative public and private residential and civic commissions through a “curated” tour led by Mr. Royston’s biographer, JC Miller. As many of these private gardens are in the hands of their original owners, this may well prove to be a rare opportunity to see them intact before major alterations are made. Rounding out the experience, the tour will conclude with a private visit and reception hosted by Mr. Royston at his own extraordinary Mill Valley garden. Built out over the past half century, the site includes a cantilevered deck offering panoramic views of Mount Tamalpais. Please join us for this rare opportunity to experience the landscapes of Robert Royston through the designer’s eyes. It will be an unforgettable experience.
Learn More About Robert Royston
Robert Royston has designed hundreds of parks and gardens over a career that spans his more than half a century of work. As one of the original group of practicing postwar California landscape architects, his projects reveal and reflect the Modernist vocabulary of this period. He has recently worked as a consultant to the City of Palo Alto, California, on the renovation of Mitchell Park. Presently, Royston is collaborating with JC. Miller on a garden in Palm Springs, California. He will turn 90 in 2008.
Read Full Bio..
Landslide: Estates Drive Reservoir, Oakland, California
The Rehabilitation of a Modernist Community Play Area: Revisiting Robert Royston’s Mitchell Park
Landslide: Parkmerced, San Francisco
Postwar Portfolio - Eichler Homes
Presenting Sponsors
Sponsored by The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and Garden Design magazine. All proceeds will benefit the production of TCLF’s Oral History module dedicated to the life and legacy of Robert Royston.