Northshore Magazine

October 2014

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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Body ne Rubrik ne 140 nshoremag.com May/June 2012 140 nshoremag.com May/June 2012 Exclusively at Visit us to view our new and exciting display! Now Showcasing 350 Winthrop Avenue, Rt.114 North Andover, MA 978.794.1650 www.designlt.com & Electrical Supplies, Inc. Design Lighting B O N S B E S T 2009 n o r t h s h o r e of balance, caution, and confid nce." In terms of sourcing stone, they choose from local farm fields and quarries or have it shipped in. According to White, "First, we determine the role of the stone, then figu e out, aesthetically, the vocabulary for the material." They may select granite, limestone, basalt, or blasted quarry stone, depending on the proposed function and desired statement. "We'll use any type of stone; most important is that it is right for the project." Since the firm's inception, White and his partners, Shin- ichiro Abe and Maho Abe, have slowly moved away from being a strictly Japanese design/build firm to a more modern design/ build firm with roots in the Japanese design aesthetic. New England's climate is very similar to that of southern Japan, so plants like maples, azaleas, rhododendrons, and viburnums are often seen in their plantings. "We do lots of scene plant- ings," explains White. "Maybe we'll use 90 percent grasses for one project, while another might be mostly conifers. We stay away from using the same plant list for every project." With four horticulturists and two arborists on staff, it is clear ZEN cares about its landscapes' long-term health. "We are heavy into plant knowledge—both in the design and the installation in the field," he notes. The mantra of all knowl- edgeable gardeners is "right plant, right place"—something White and his associates consider crucial. The fact that they are willing to spend up to nine months amending a site's soil speaks volumes about their commitment to installing gardens designed to thrive. White talks about the quality, texture, and drainage of soil like a true plantsman—a rare characteristic among landscape architects. It is yet another virtue separating ZEN Associates from other landscape ar- chitecture firms, many of which are very practiced at design Landscape ne 140 Design Team: ZEN principals Peter White, Maho Abe, and Shinichiro Abe Photographs by Michael Basu

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