Dave
I have been fortunate over my life to work as a landscape architect in places throughout the world, collaborating with remarkable teammates and consultants, on projects of all types and scale. And now, here I am, at Carpenter Studio, working beside Sam and Ben, a father’s dream, as together, we practice landscape architecture, drawing upon our individual and collective experiences.
Born and raised in Indiana, I spent my youth in the rolling fields and hardwood forests of the Midwest, captivated by the relationship between building and land; best described as authentic, integrated, simple, and functional. I began drawing at an early age, recording what I saw, imagining what could be. That led to an undergraduate degree in architecture and a desire to see the world.
In 1981, I loaded up my Dodge Ram Charger truck and drove to Colorado where I have lived ever since. I began as an architect but quickly pivoted to landscape architecture in search of a way to create better relationships between buildings and sites, expanding my frame of reference with a Master’s degree in the field. I have practiced as a landscape architect ever since.
I still draw to understand the essence of a place, to communicate its potential. Inspired by the resources and influences of my life from books and magazines, to art and travel, I have no pre-conceptions when I begin a new project. The creative process unfolds organically, responsive to the beauty of a place, expressed honestly and openly. I look for design solutions that are appropriate for their context with an understanding of how to move from idea to execution, buildable and sustainable.
I have worked in a multitude of offices and environments, most recently with DHM Design, a Colorado based landscape architecture and planning firm. In 1998, I opened DHM’s first branch office in Carbondale with my wife and fellow partner, Laura Kirk. When we began, it was the two of us; when I left in 2021, the Carbondale office had grown to a staff of 20.
Throughout that time, I was principal-in-charge for design of projects in Aspen, Telluride, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Denver, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Canada, Mexico and beyond. Project types included ranches, residences, riverfronts, parks, and hot springs, in urban and rural settings. No project was the same, each new and engaging, an opportunity for something fresh. In addition to the daily involvement with and mentoring of the Carbondale office, I offered strategic visioning for the firm as a whole, helping to position the organization for future growth.
While everything that has come before has had its rewards, working with Sam and Ben at Carpenter Studio is an unparalleled opportunity to share our craft with clients and consultants as we continue to shape the landscape in thoughtful and meaningful ways. I am honored beyond measure.