Windows into Charlie’s World
April 2011 Circle Gallery College of Environment & Design University of Georgia Co-curators: RenĂŠ Shoemaker & Stephanie Crockatt Design: Eleonora Machado (CCDP)
Charles E. Godfrey, Jr., a truly talented gentleman from Spartanburg, South Carolina, holds both a BLA ’57 and MLA ’71 from the University of Georgia’s College of Environment & Design. His Southern residential and estate work resonates with style and skill of craftsmanship, embodying an artful and timeless methodology. Looking out through the wall of windows from Charlie’s treetop loft studio onto his gardens below, it is easy to understand his sources for inspiration and passion. At the core of his practice, Charlie listens intently to his clients’ needs, desires and expectations. Listening, he espouses, is a critical skill to master in order to be true to a design. He strongly believes in the technique of hand drawing and developing sensitivity of site intuition, and working as a team with contractors. Charlie has an eye for elegant color and creative composition, not only with exterior spaces, but interior spaces as well. So please allow us the honor of welcoming you to his inspiring life and to the
Windows into Charlie’s World. “There is something special about spreading a big sheet of white tracing paper on your drawing board and knowing that, with a pencil as an extension of your mind, the world is yours to create whatever greatness you can imagine. Pushing a button to turn on a computer just isn’t the same thing.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“All my life, strong-willed, lovely ladies have told me what to do. Fortunately, I listened!” “Undergraduate landscape architecture design courses were taught by either Professor Hubert Owens or Professor Brooks Wigginton. We were in the Founders House and on the top floor of Denmark Hall. The basement level of Denmark was the canteen for main campus and the middle floor was the cafeteria. Denmark Hall was remodeled and taken over by landscape architecture while I was there. An architect designed the remodeling of the building, which included the major addition of the outside stairwells with the yellow pierced brick walls. The landscape design was a class project; Brooks Wigginton did the final design. For our design courses we were given a project, often a real project in Athens or a short drive away, and met with the clients to discuss their desires. We designed the project with our professor, working one-on-one during class time, giving each student as much time as needed. Sometimes time would run out before it was your turn, but the next day your turn came. Often the clients and always the other professors would be present for a critique as each student took turns presenting his work.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“The presentation was often required to be a watercolor wash. The process as I remember:” Prepare the design on tracing paper in pencil
Soak a slightly larger than 30” X 40” watercolor paper in a six-foot-long, claw-foot bathtub for several hours
Go eat supper
Using T-square and triangles, etc., transfer carbon design on to paper
Using ruling pen and India Ink, draw design on paper
Take off layer of masking tape. Do second wash and let dry. Take off next layer of masking tape, and so on. Cobalt Blue is always last wash
Wash and let dry
Final task is to paint wall thickness of buildings with Vermilion Red watercolor to snap out the drawing’s readability
Vermilion Red does not take a wash
Stretch watercolor paper on wooden drawing table or drawing board, being careful to staple corners;
Turn tracing paper design right-side up on top of dry, stretched watercolor paper
smooth to diagonal corner;
and rub graphite from mechanical pencil sharpener on back and smear with toilet paper
smooth and staple other corners and smooth-staple edges
Turn tracing paper design over,
With masking tape, carefully mask out different things for different layers for the wash. For example: the building and borders were always left white. The terrace might have only one wash and the driveway might have two, and so on
Then with natural sponge, begin the wash process. The recipe is watercolor Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre and Cobalt Blue
Cut 30” X 40” drawing out of stretched watercolor paper with X-Acto knife
Render the design with watercolors; hand painting each tree, shrub, wall, walks, arbors, each stone in flagstone terrace, etc.
Drawing will look 100 years old
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Charlie values not just what he learned during his student years at the University of Georgia, but also the friends that he made along the way. Charlie came to UGA at the prompting of his high school art teacher in Spartanburg, Miss Mackay Wilkes. John Arthur Russell, a fraternity brother who was a landscape architecture student, asked for Charlie’s help on a scale model for a project. Charlie’s interest was engaged, and he soon took an elective landscape architecture class. This elective class with Brooks Wigginton, convinced him to switch majors immediately. He left the art program and moved over to landscape architecture under Dean Hubert Owens. In addition to his attraction to the subject matter, Charlie was also impressed with the attitude and professionalism of the landscape architecture school professors and students. Longtime professor Bob Hill and Charlie were undergraduates together, but Bob was a senior when Charlie was a sophomore, so they didn’t get to know each other very well. When Charlie returned to UGA to get his MLA, he moved into a house next door to Professor Hill, and they soon became good (and lifelong) friends.
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Charleston Garden: Mr. and Mrs. B. K. Bryan Greenville, S.C. “Clients are the first members of the Design Team. Then comes the landscape architect, the architect, and the interior designer. B. K. and Francis Bryan, Charles Godfrey Landscape Architects, Harold Mack Architects, and Louise Quinn of Town House Galleries created this much loved Charleston-style environment.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Contemporary Garden: Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Zimmerli Spartanburg, S.C. “The textile industry brought Kurt and Nellie Zimmerli from their native Switzerland to South Carolina. Their home in Spartanburg was one of my early projects. The Zimmerlis requested “a prominent display of the American Flag” for their home. This impressed me so much; I really think that the flag pole was where the design for this garden began. Tom Hollis, AIA, Hollis Crocker Architects, had already sited the house, tennis court, and designed the terrace. I added the pool and sculpture at the terrace and entrance with steps at the front door to work with the casual guest parking area. The sculpture in this garden adds a most delightful quality of peace.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Japanese Style Garden: Dr. Steve Harley Spartanburg, S.C. “Spartanburg’s most eligible bachelor was interested in Japanese culture, having visited there on several occasions. His Spartanburg house in a lovely neighborhood had been described as having the charm of a 1950’s dentist’s office before we were called on the scene.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“Never more than in these times have I realized what a privilege, and what fun work has been. It is all about the people.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Charlie’s design work explores the juxtaposition between green space and hardscape. He has a love for gardens, plants, flowers – all things that grow. His walls and paving within the landscape go beyond the utilitarian and provide balance and clarity to his designs. Charlie is a master at creating spaces that are expansive yet intimate. Charlie believes outdoor living spaces are just as important as indoor ones, and should have the same accessibility and flow. He spends a great deal of time getting to know his clients and their needs, and tailors his designs accordingly. For Charlie, the owner is the number one player on the design team. Many clients remain friends long after the project is completed.
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“How do you write about your own space? Mine evolved, but it is uncanny how the basic design is still the same. I love to say that most folks have an office with a window; well I have a window with an office. It is nice to look outside. It is kind of a life style thing. And having your office and your home in the same building is now the thing to do. It is the ultimate Green Office and the commute is great. Design Schools teach landscape architects to be night owls. The flexibility to be creative is your choice. The necessary discipline is to keep office hours. And it is the nature of the profession that landscape architects need to go to the site. Also, I meet clients often after hours because they both work. It gives me great control to meet at my office in a casual, relaxing setting, with no interruptions, when I am looking for the answer ‘yes’. Also, it is a great way to teach night lighting to clients: steps, plants, flow, arbors, etc. What is a Landscape Architect? He is a quick change artist; coat and tie for lunch with a client followed by cotton pants and boots in the field. Your car is your support office.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Edgeworth Farm: Mr. and Mrs. George Stinson Tryon, N.C. “George and Betty Stinson’s idea of retirement was to leave Pittsburgh and buy a 100-acre, former horse farm near the Blockhouse in Tryon, N.C. The house was sited for the view across the long valley pasture toward the silhouette of Hogback Mountain. The new house was attached to one of the several barns which was converted into the guest house. Another barn was torn down and became the site for the swimming pool which was designed to allow one to enjoy the great panoramic view while afloat. Holand Brady, AIA, of Tryon, N.C. was the architect.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Boxwood Lane: Mr. and Mrs. Bob DeLapp Greenville, S.C.
before
after
before
after
“Phyllis, please don’t buy this wonderful house; the entire back yard is paved!”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Swimming Pool: Mrs. Phyllis B. DeLapp Spartanburg, S.C. “To have fun and to cool off was the intent of this small pool and spa in this shady backyard. The shade was a gift from neighbors’ trees, and the design of the pool was inspired by the sunny spot. The pool is seven feet deep, has a swim out, beach entry, and no chrome. The brick wall screens the neighbor’s garage and pool equipment. A wooden deck at the house is two thousand square feet.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“To see street trees I have ‘caused’, especially in my home town, ain’t nothing but wonderful!” In terms of giving back to his community, Charlie has been very generous with both his time and his creative talents. This is evident in the work he does for UGA/CED and the CED Alumni Association. Charlie is also very active in the Spartanburg Kiwanis Club. Charlie has completed hundreds of design projects in the Spartanburg area. It’s great fun to do a tour of Spartanburg and count off all the contributions to the beauty of the area made by Charlie’s firm, CEGLA.
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
The French Broad River Garden Club Asheville, N.C. “During the 1930s, several ladies of the Biltmore Forest community in Asheville formed the French Broad River Garden Club to protect and conserve the arts of the Appalachian Mountains. Through the years, they saved several Log Cabins that were doomed by development. These cabins were carefully reconstructed on a modest piece of land across from Biltmore Forest on Highway 25. In the early 1990s, there was a plan to widen Highway 25, which would have encroached on the Garden Club property as well as destroy a large portion of the cabin called the Long Building. Enter the landscape architect... The traffic on Highway 25 is uncompromising: heavy, dirty, loud, dusty and ugly. Parking is also a problem. The design we came up with in working with the ladies allowed for the creation of a green space along this busy and congested road. A masonry screen was constructed; one end of the Long Building became the entrance to the compound and allowed for access to parking from a safer side of the road. A large circular arbor tied all the elements of the garden and buildings together. We maintained a rustic character to complement the Log Cabins. The arbor was the key to providing outdoor space with shade, benches and counters for work during the annual spring herb sale. It is also conducive to friendly gatherings, such as meetings or picnic lunches. The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County gave this preservation project—The French Broad River Garden Club Complex—the Griffin Award in 1996.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
“Design: Do the obvious, tear it up and throw it away. Then be creative!” According to Charlie, supplying clients with good quality work is always the first challenge. Also, the current economic downturn puts budget constraints on many projects. Creatively speaking, keeping hand drawing and sketching alive is critically important. There is a value in drawing, sketching, and mind-to-hand expression that goes beyond anything the computer can deliver. Handcrafted landscape architecture creates spaces that are livable and approachable, not just academically correct. The Question Not Asked – Contractors have changed dramatically over the years. Craftsmanship is of extreme importance. The whole team must work together to bring a fine quality design to completion. Generational Differences – Clients want results so much more quickly now than in the past. They don’t seem to be ready to wait to see trees grown and plants mature. How is a landscape architect to work with these expectations? Live things cannot be instant. “My clients are my best friends, and I am forever indebted to them for letting me step into their lives to design a more beautiful environment and lifestyle for us to enjoy.”
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia
Thank you, Charlie.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you, Cody. Mike
Cody
Charlie
Windows into Charlie’s World Circle Gallery | College of Environment & Design | The University of Georgia