The Vital Role of Gardens in Our Homes
A chat with Los Angeles-based landscape architect David Godshall
David Godshall, the owner and principal of Terramoto, a landscape architecture firm with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, joined me for a chat in 2020. It was a time when the importance of outdoor spaces—both private and public—was becoming more evident than ever, making it the perfect moment to talk with a landscape architect.
David shared his thoughts on how the pandemic has shaped the future of public green spaces, and today it’s fascinating to see which of those ideas have actually taken root since our discussion.
As we talked, David gave me a glimpse into his firm’s approach to designing landscapes that are not just functional but also emotionally restorative. He explained how landscape architecture is often misunderstood as just "gardening," when in fact it covers everything from residential gardens to large-scale urban planning. Noted.
We also discussed today’s shift toward creating garden designs that are more regionally appropriate and environmentally conscious—a practice many architects now embrace. It’s a good reminder that the environment belongs to all of us, and we should all make an effort to protect it. We also touched upon the role of greenery in public spaces in a city like Los Angeles, where David lives and works, the impact of modernist architecture on landscape design, and much more. I hope you will enjoy our conversation.
(Marco Guagliardo - Mid-Century Home’s Editor in Chief)
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