September 14, 2024 • Posted by Design Bay Area
Join us for a lively fireside chat about landscape architecture, urban design and community development with James Munden of MFLA, Lucas Dexter of Dexter Estate Landscapes, James Heid, built environment entrepreneur and co-founder of CraftWork.
Silver Oak Winery. Credit: Patrik Argast
Merriam Vineyards
Merriam Vineyards
About:
JAMES MUNDEN
PARTNER, PLA
James Munden is a Partner at MFLA with 20+ years of experience in landscape architecture, urban design, and community development. He received his BA (Honors) degree and postgraduate diploma in landscape architecture from the University of Central England in Birmingham, U.K. James is a licensed landscape architect in the state of California.
Since 2010, James has been collaborating with Marta Fry on a diverse portfolio of projects in the Bay Area, Sonoma County, Napa, Monterey and Arizona. Work includes a variety of agricultural sites, hospitality, wineries, State Parks and residential estates.
James’s career began in the U.K. working three years on research & development projects that sparked his curiosity for innovative and sustainable design; before moving to London where he received his license as a landscape architect. His early upbringing in the countryside of the Southeast Coast of England, involved time spent working on well-established agricultural land and an early 1800’s walled garden on his parents property. Rural landscape continues to inspire his passion in protecting and restoring land through design.
Being a lead in award winning projects, James expresses an importance in identifying the diverse relationships people have with their environment. Acknowledging previous land use, physically and culturally, James creates high quality designs that are artistic, relevant, and environmentally responsible. Outside the studio, James is getting his hands dirty in his own garden in Healdsburg.
LUCAS DEXTER
DEXTER ESTATE LANDSCAPES
Lucas Dexter, a Sonoma County native, is a second-generation landscape contractor with 22 years of experience specializing in the installation of large-scale private estate gardens. Collaborating with world-class landscape architects, Lucas has developed a reputation for excellence in the landscape industry. A passionate plant enthusiast, he has also identified new tree varieties and is featured in Amy Stewart’s latest book, *The Tree Collectors*.
Jim Heid, FASLA Founding Partner
Idea Guy + Placebuilder
Jim has spent a lot of his career exploring new ideas. Some would say he makes things more complex, but he just wants to make them better. For over 30 years he has advised cities, NGO’s, legacy families and private developers on more positive ways to build community. Trained initially as a landscape architect, he went on to receive a Masters of Real Estate Development from MIT as a way to combine his passion for great design with a desire to get things done.
In 2003, along with his wife Marty and daughter Maddie, they planted their first flag in Healdsburg. Like many naïve do-it-yourselfers, their first project – The Little House at 536 Johnson Street – took far longer and cost more than envisioned. Undaunted, they went on to do things faster (but still more than budgeted) with The Library Cottages at 507/509/511 Johnson Street.
When not advising or renovating, Jim has been leading professionals from all over the country to see how small-scale, incremental development is being leveraged to create more vibrant, enduring communities. The concept for CraftWork emerged from what he saw in Pittsburgh and Phoenix, Denver and Detroit, and ten other cities. Regardless of the politics, climate, or age of the city – coworking was always at the center of new ideas, economic vitality and a renewed sense of place and purpose.
After the 10th tour, the concept for CraftWork was launched with Founding Partner Dan Carroll. Shortly after Gabe and Jeff joined the fray for all the same reasons – Healdsburg is just too great a town to not have its own special workplace for the rest of us.
Page header photo credit: Joe Fletcher