-
The oak genus supports more biodiversity than any other tree species. The Angel Oak, a beloved southern Live Oak tree situated within John's Island, is central to a web of relationships with local flora and fauna.
1 / 4 -
Ecological assessment diagram
2 / 4 -
Arrival sequence diagram
3 / 4 -
Rendered view of The Commemorative Walk, one of the areas envisioned for the Angel Oak Preserve.
4 / 4
Angel Oak Preserve
Charleston, SC
2021 - Ongoing
The design for Angel Oak Preserve emerges from deep research into the ecological, cultural, and communal legacy of the Lowcountry’s most iconic tree. Archival maps, ecological studies, Indigenous and Gullah-Geechee histories, and a decade of community advocacy by dedicated community leaders and conservation groups shaped and guided the design. Trails, interpretive nodes, boardwalks, and a welcome center are woven into a restored landscape. Low-disturbance raised boardwalks will allow visitors to experience proximity to the Angel Oak while protecting the tree’s roots, and offering a vantage from which the surrounding landscape can be read as both archive and living system.
Collaborators
Client
NBW Design Leadership
Jen Jessup, Mike Kittrell, Jenny Lauer, Tim Popa, Kimberley Midori Huggins, Katie Smithson, Thomas L. Woltz