Hands-on connections
Landscape designer Anthony Exter’s circles of energy
By Joanna Beresford 11/19/2009
“God is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.”
— Hermes Tresmegistus
Hermes Tresmegistus sounds like a guy who would jump out of a hat or saw himself in half behind a canvas tent at the county fair. I wanted to learn more about him this week, because I was ruminating over the rather famous quote, so I idled a few hours away at my computer, trying to track down the Tres-meister.
And you know what? He doesn’t even exist. At least he’s not a real person, not a mortal person anyway. He’s some hybrid deity of ancient Greek and Egyptian folklore — and even those mythical origins are unclear. Getting a hold of Hermes Tresmegistus is like trying to capture a billow of smoke from the end of a cigarette — that was smoked 2,000 years ago. How can an illusionary figure get credit for an idea that’s been floating around for millennia? It’s kind of irritating, but I’ll let it go because the true hero of this week’s column is made of flesh and blood, and he’s crafting real magic (that you can touch, smell and see).
Anthony Exter recently completed an award-winning landscape design project on El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. He says that when he first visited the residence it was in pretty bad condition; the neighbors called it “the bunker.” The owners had renovated the interior of the house in contemporary line, space, color, etc. But the yard presented some daunting challenges for Anthony. “We knew we wanted a pool and that it should lie beyond the atrium of the house. But the ground was hilly, scrubby, overloaded with vegetation. We had to literally cut through all that before we could even get started.”
Anthony’s process involves initial interviews with his clients, during which he determines the desired function of the home’s exterior spaces — the kinds of plants, living space (pool, outdoor barbecue or kitchen, media, furniture?) that his clients envision. He also observes the household and how the residents choose to personalize their space.
“The homeowners at El Molino were very interested in an eclectic collection of art,” says Anthony. “That was great, because we were able to extend that aesthetic into the garden.”
Anthony also learned that his clients like to entertain — which, to my way of thinking, gives a guy like Anthony free rein to create, not a sweet English garden, but a sleek and inviting party pad!
Our conversation about the effect of circles on the human psyche arose because the signature feature of Anthony’s El Molino garden is a playful use of globe-shaped lights to adorn the rear wall of the garden, glowing behind and reflecting softly in the clear blue water of the pool.
“I’m a diehard circle person,” Anthony confesses. “I like circles a lot. Most people who look at the shape of the lights at El Molino say that it makes them feel happy. They also have different interpretations of the lights; some say they look like moons, or bubbles, or marshmallows. I think the circles energize people.”
In many cultures the circle symbolizes joy, safety and cosmic unity. In ancient Chinese tradition circles represent heaven, while squares represent earth. In architecture and design, circular spaces draw us in, embracing us within their encompassing line, and Anthony and I talked about Frank Lloyd Wright’s affinity for the happy form of a circle.
The El Molino garden won the Green Award from Garden Design magazine because the plant materials, trees and ground cover promote low water usage. Lush lines of grass that highlight cement and stonework are made of artificial turf. And the circular light bulbs run on dimmers for energy efficiency.
Anthony first trained as an architect, then earned his master’s degree in landscape architecture. I asked him about the conversion.
“As an architecture student I observed landscape architecture students across the hall from us,” says Anthony. “They just seemed to be a lot happier than anyone else. I spend a lot of time traveling, going to public parks locally, and hiking in the hills. I think there’s a real thrill that you get by getting your hands in the dirt. Los Angeles, in particular, can be chaotic, stressful, covered in pavement. I think it’s very important to get into direct contact with the earth.”
In addition to his hands-on design work, Anthony offers a lecture series: “Sustainability and the Modern Garden.” For more information visit anthonyexter.com.
Contact Joanna Dehn Beresford at truewrite@yahoo.com.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT