Legendary landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden has been creating beautiful and sustainable gardens in the Hamptons for over 40 years. On Saturday, June 17, Eric Groft, CEO of the agency, will offer an exclusive look at the private gardens and estates seen in his new book, Beyond Bold: Inspiration, Collaboration, Evolution. Groft’s lecture will take place at 10 AM in the Silas Marder Gallery at Marders Garden Center at 120 Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton. Eric will sign copies of his book immediately following his talk.
“Beyond Bold: Inspiration, Collaboration, Evolution” follows the “Next Generation”
of leadership at Oehme, van Sweden, a landscape architecture firm that’s been
creating extraordinary outdoor spaces for nearly 50 years. With 320 pages of vibrant
photographs, detailed project plans, and first-hand commentary from principals Sheila
Brady, Lisa Delplace, and Eric Groft, the book is a one-of-a-kind record of OvS’
history and evolution.
Building upon OvS’ reputation for sustainable, client-tailored residential design, the current leaders have developed an oeuvre that’s as legacy-driv-
en as it is exploratory. From private gardens and pools to the expansive Tippet Rise Art Center in rural Montana to urban oases like the Chicago and New York Botanical
Gardens, the projects featured in this book are masterpieces of both horticulture and
hardscape. Arranged into thematic chapters — “The House and its Garden,” “Gathering
Places,” “At the Water’s Edge,” “Urban Retreats” and “Farms and Fields” — “Beyond
Bold: Inspiration, Collaboration, Evolution” is an image-rich study of some of the
most geographically and stylistically diverse landscape projects by the top players
in the industry.
OvS was founded in Washington, DC in 1975 by horticulturalist Wolfgang Oehme
and architect James van Sweden. Their partnership established a style known as the
New American Garden, which celebrates the seasonal splendor of the American
meadow while promoting its inherent ecological and sustainable values. Under the guidance of the new principals, the OvS style continues to evolve but re-
mains driven by art, science, and emotional connections.
