green circle design

Green Circle Design was founded in 2004 by Kate Lacouture, on the principle that good landscape design should be inherently sustainable. To this end, we promote alternatives to the American front lawn, use native plants to preserve habitat, and encourage organic methods of gardening. Every project consists of a series of environmentally-based choices: from siting and drainage, to construction materials and techniques, to plant choices and landscape maintenance. With each decision we have an opportunity and a responsibility to contribute to the health of the planet.

GCD offers landscape consultations, typically 90-minute site visits, which can be a starting point for new clients, or a one-time session for home gardeners needing a little professional help.

For larger projects we work in a design/build capacity, with a core group of contractors and masons. During the design phase, we consider the client’s needs relative to the site conditions, and produce plans and sketches necessary for the client to visualize the project. Typically the design process continues during the construction phase as we collaborate closely with our team of contractors: the shape of a terrace emerges with the placement of a particular stone, or a tall perennial becomes the surprise focus of a garden bed. The end result is a built garden that reflects the uniqueness of the site and our discoveries during the process. And because a garden is a constantly-changing entity, we will always return to the site at the client’s request for a follow-up consultation.

GCD also offers consultations to schools and community groups interested in starting garden programs. We strive to inspire and empower kids by teaching them the impact of their decisions as citizens on the environment. Student gardeners come to understand their connection to the natural world and its other inhabitants; they develop an appreciation for the health and environmental benefits of locally-grown organic food (and are more likely to eat it!); and they get the valuable hands-on experience of caring for a growing garden.

Kate Lacouture is a registered landscape architect (RI LA license #390), and is certified as an organic land care professional by NOFA. She lives in Providence with her husband and three sons. (click here for cv.)

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Private Residence, Barrington, RI

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Private Residence, Pawtucket, RI

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Harvest Celebrations at the International Charter School, Pawtucket, RI

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Bluestone, Brick and River Stone Paving

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Private Residence, Providence, RI

work

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School & Community Gardens

Pleasant View Elementary School Playground & Gardens, Providence, RI

Mount Hope From-Food-Relief-to-Food-Sovereignty Project, Providence, RI

Native Perennial Garden/Curriculum Integration at Reservoir Ave. Elementary School, Providence, RI

Montessori Community School of Rhode Island, Providence, RI

General Street Park Educational Pollinator Garden, Providence, RI

Lots of Hope Garden/Science Curriculum Integration Pilot Project, Providence, RI

Father Lennon Park Improvements & Community Garden, Providence, RI

Manton Bend Community Farm, Lots of Hope, Providence, RI

Children’s Garden at the International Charter School, Pawtucket, RI

Martin Luther King School Community Garden, Providence, RI

Mary Fogarty School Community Garden, Providence, RI

Science Garden at Nathan Bishop Middle School, Providence, RI

Brown Street Park Children’s Garden, Providence, RI

Children’s Garden at the Jewish Community Center, Providence, RI

Sanchez Elementary School, San Francisco, CA

Prison Gardens

Garden Time at the Men’s Maximum Security Facility, Adult Correctional Institutes, Cranston, RI

Garden Time at the Women’s Minimum Security Facility, Bernadette Building, Adult Correctional Institutes, Cranston, RI

Garden Time at the Men’s Medium Security Facility, Moran Building, Adult Correctional Institutes, Cranston, RI

For more information: www.gardentime.us

Park Design

Mission Creek Park, Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA (w/MFLA)

Bayfront Park Concept Plan, Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA (w/MFLA)

McEnery Park, San Jose, CA (w/TOOCB)

Urban Design & Community Planning

Mission Bay Streetscape & Open Space Master Plan, San Francisco, CA (w/MFLA)

Mission Bay North of Channel, Streetscape Improvement Plans, San Francisco, CA (w/MFLA)

SF Parks Strategic Plan, San Francisco, CA (w/TOOCB)

Sunnyvale Light Rail, Sunnyvale, CA (w/KKA)

Cultural Landscape Restoration

Hanna House, Stanford, CA (w/TOOCB)

Fort Tryon Park Restoration, New York, NY (w/QRA)

Institutional & Corporate Design

Gap Inc., Corporate Headquarters, San Bruno, CA (w/MFLA)

One California Plaza, San Francisco, CA (w/KKA)

Sports & Recreational Facilities

Arnold Palmer Golf Clubhouse, Presidio of San Francisco, CA (w/TOOCB)

Pacific Bell Park, SF Giants Stadium, San Francisco, CA (w/TOOCB)

Residential Design (partial list)

Twichell Residence, Providence, RI

Hughes Residence, Providence, RI

Caskey Residence, Barrington, RI

Woodbury Residence, Pawtucket, RI

Chitnis Residence, Providence, RI

Redway Residence, Providence, RI

Day Residence, Providence, RI

Avila Residence, Providence, RI

Sullivan Residence, Providence, RI

(MFLA) Marta Fry Landscape Architects

(TOOCB) The Office of Cheryl Barton

(KKA) Ken Kay Associates

(QRA) Quennell Rothschild Associates

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Garden at the International Charter School, Pawtucket, RI

contact

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kate lacouture
green circle design
286 rochambeau ave
providence, ri 02906

(401) 996-4922

kate@greencircledesign.net