Ann Kearsley is a registered landscape architect and urban designer and the owner and founding principal of Ann Kearsley Design based in Portland, ME. AKD specializes in ecologically based landscape design, connecting landscape form and spatial structure to the dynamics of a site’s natural systems and the enhancement of ecosystem function. The firm’s work ranges from large-scale master planning to public parks and private gardens and includes numerous public and private landscapes for sculpture. AKD has extensive experience with the planning and design of agricultural landscapes where farming operations are integrated with experiential educational programming, research and community outreach. Kearsley’s current research focuses on the relationship between land use and carbon sequestration and on adapting the techniques of regenerative agricultural for use in the development of public and private non-agricultural landscapes.
Kearsley holds masters’ degrees in both landscape architecture and urban design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and an AB in English literature from Dartmouth College. She is a frequent presenter at local and regional conferences on ecological landscape design and stormwater management and has chaired workshops and symposiums on the integration of landscape architecture and ecological restoration at the Society for Ecological Restoration’s International and European Conferences (Iceland 2018, Brazil 2017, Germany 2016).
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
LDAR 2252-01 - PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LDAR 2252-01
PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Ann Kearsley, Hope LeesonLocation(s): Weybosset St Studios, Room 105B; Weybosset St Studios, Room 105AEnrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will explore the botanical, horticultural and ecological aspects of plants and plant communities. Through lectures and field trips, students will become familiar with the form, physical qualities, identifying characteristics, seasonal aspect, preferred growing conditions, native habitats and ecological function of common plants of New England. In addition, lectures will focus on contemporary ecological theories around disturbance ecology and ecological succession to gain an understanding of how designers can work with these forces to shape landscapes over time.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Landscape Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MLA-I Landscape Architecture
LDAR 2252-02 - PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LDAR 2252-02
PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Ann Kearsley, Hope LeesonLocation(s): Weybosset St Studios, Room 105B; Weybosset St Studios, Room 105AEnrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will explore the botanical, horticultural and ecological aspects of plants and plant communities. Through lectures and field trips, students will become familiar with the form, physical qualities, identifying characteristics, seasonal aspect, preferred growing conditions, native habitats and ecological function of common plants of New England. In addition, lectures will focus on contemporary ecological theories around disturbance ecology and ecological succession to gain an understanding of how designers can work with these forces to shape landscapes over time.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Landscape Architecture Students.
All entering Landscape Architecture students are required to participate in the department's four-week preparatory summer program in design fundamentals and field ecology. This course parallels similar ones being held for new students in other departments within the Architecture and Design Division. The design fundamentals component of the program is intended to provide the methodological and theoretical framework for RISD's Landscape programs and initiates discussion of design making and critique necessary for the more specialized studio work that follows. The summer course, in preparation for this, builds a basic design language, familiarity with tools and materials, and 2 and 3-dimensional skills that will be needed immediately upon entering the studio sequence. The field ecology component of the summer program places basic design discussions within the context of landscape-based practice. It is intended to build awareness of ecological issues (using southern New England as a case study), facilitate the ability to interpret the landscape and the nonhuman and cultural forces which have shaped it over time, and foster an environmental ethic. This segment of the program is critical for building a knowledge base and a philosophical framework within which future design efforts may be evaluated. The summer program offers a unique opportunity to engage classmates and faculty in a focused discussion of design-related issues which can be sustained over the course of one's studies. The course meets five days a week (including some weekends).
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department; registration is not available in Workday. Enrollment is limited to Landscape Architecture Students.
