Sitelines and Timelines
Situated within the dramatic topography of the northern Hudson Valley, Olana offers sublime views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains.
NBW has had the privilege of contributing to the preservation and enhancement of the Olana State Historic Site, the 250-acre masterpiece that was the home, studio, and designed landscape of Frederic Edwin Church, a leading figure of the Hudson River School of painting.
The Olana Partnership commissioned the team to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Olana's programmatic and operational needs as well as its cultural and ecological landscape assets. The resulting Strategic Landscape Design Plan provided a roadmap to reinvigorate the historical connections between the residence, its landscape, and the broader Hudson Valley context. This plan identifies three primary areas for intervention, provides site-wide recommendations, and includes a market and financial feasibility analysis, all aimed at re-establishing a holistic experience of Olana as Church's designed home and landscape.
Research efforts involved creating detailed maps and diagrams to restore historical viewsheds, delineate the Historic Core, and determine the optimal location for the new Olana Center. Recognizing the significance of external vistas — from the estate to the river, neighboring hills, valleys, and distant mountains — was essential in honoring Church's vision of the landscape.
Strategic interventions restored and enhanced the historic viewsheds from the main house, aligning with Frederic Church's original vision. These included selective thinning of hedgerows and woodlands that had encroached upon former pastures, establishing low native meadow grasses in the historic orchard, restoring pastures, uncovering the ruins of structures like the Breezie Farmhouse, and enhancing drainage systems. Additionally, the Crown Hill Carriage Road, one of the pleasure drives designed by Church, was restored to enrich the visitor experience.
In selecting a site for the Frederic Church Center for Art & Landscape, NBW sought to preserve the external and internal viewsheds central to Church's artistic vision. Located near the estate's entry point outside of Olana's Historic Core, the Center welcomes visitors early in their experience. The site design preserves the critical viewsheds while accommodating vehicular access and parking, as well as the 4,500-square-foot mass timber structure that provides ticketing, display areas, a multipurpose room, a café, and restrooms.
NBW drew inspiration from Church's picturesque design by choreographing arcing paths that connect the Center with terraces, an amphitheater, and a key but little-known viewshed that Church designed: the view of the lake in the foreground, the gently rising hill in the mid-ground, and Church’s fanciful Persian-inspired house in the background.
The landscape surrounding the visitor center is a careful extension of Church's original vision, merging art and nature for a contemporary context. An essential design tenet was to restore the site's ecological integrity, which had been compromised by increasing deer pressure and invasive species. The arrangement of the hundreds of native trees, shrubs, and perennials enables a dynamic, seasonal landscape. The strategically located stormwater gardens collect and filter runoff, contributing to overall climate resilience and showcasing hydrological processes through a diverse native planting palette. All plantings were selected to restore woodland health, supporting local wildlife by fostering a biodiverse environment that provides habitat, food, and cover while immersing the visitor in the experience of moving through Hudson Valley woodland.
NBW's commitment to preserving and enhancing historic landscapes is exemplified through its work at Olana, ensuring that Frederic Church's legacy continues to inspire and engage visitors for generations to come.
