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May 8, 1997
To: Almaden Group and Omar Faruque
From: Valerie
On Almaden Gardens Design (with a capital "D")
When folks enter a place that has been beautifully designed, they rarely consider the thought
processes of the designer as they enjoy the space. And well they shouldn't: the place was designed
for enjoyment, not analysis. As designers, we know that a beautiful setting is rarely a happy
coincidence. Gorgeous views are retained while intrusive
ones are screened. Spaces lead gracefully one into the other causing the user to believe she/he is creating a magnificent experience
simply by choosing the perfect route. Unity and surprise intrigue the visitor; a form that is seen
in the rose garden reappears in the tot lot. The park has an ambiance that is familiar, connected
to the archetypal park in the user's mind. At the same time the park is unique with a personality
as no other. It takes artists and scientists years of education and experience to create this vision
that seems so simple and easy to the average user. |
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was designed by a master, manicured by full time gardeners for years, and populated by mature,
living wonders. The foundation that this garden was built on, the agricultural heritage of Santa
Clara Valley, the legacy of the wine making families, the genius of Thomas Church, and the
beauty and humility of the park's botanic survivors, deserves more than a mediocre design that
fills a recreational checklist. It calls for a masterful design, unifying the users' needs with the
final remnants of the park's previous incarnation as a private garden.
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