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Since last October, BGH leadership and our design team have been hard at work on the schematic design of Phase 1 of the Centennial Master Plan. This phase encompasses areas of the gardens located between the Fowl River and Mirror Lake, from the North Bayou southward all the way to the northern edge of the Great Lawn. Of course, this means that it includes all garden spaces around the Bellingrath Home and the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain building. Although all of the gardens are historic, we have chosen to call this particular area the “Historic Core,” since it forms the heart and soul of the garden and contains its most elaborately designed spaces. The design team for this project is Tres Fromme (3.fromme Design, Sanford, Florida) and Steven Lee Johnson (Sitework Studios, Asheville, North Carolina).
Not everything in the Historic Core is original, however. The South Terrace, for instance, was created in the early 1960s after the fishing lodge was torn down after Mr. Bellingrath’s death in 1955. Therefore, neither Walter nor Bessie Bellingrath ever saw the current South Terrace. The boathouse (or River Pavilion), also is not original, with the current structure representing the third such iteration being constructed on the Fowl River!
Highlights of the planning for Phase 1, as of completion of schematic design, are as follows:
1. We will be restoring all existing features, as needed, to their original specifications, designs, and functionality. For instance, a crack on the south face of the Grotto is worrisome, such that it will be investigated and repaired. Another issue that will be resolved relates to eliminating water being piped through the basement of the Home from the Courtyard Garden to the East Terrace.
2. We will create an ADA-accessible loop leading downhill from the South Terrace, along the Riverfront, looping westward to Mirror Lake, and then, via a new walkway, leading along the entire shore of Mirror Lake before returning via a modernized, accessible walkway uphill to the Historic Core.
3. Improved and expanded restroom facilities are a part of this plan, including modernization of those in the Boehm Gallery and construction of new facilities adjacent to this building and also in a new garden.
4. What new garden?! Well, at the northern end of this area, we propose to construct the “Centennial Terrace,” a space that will celebrate 100 years of BGH’s existence and also offer beautiful views to both the Fowl River and the North Bayou, while providing a new space for rental opportunities and other celebrations. Please see at the top of this article the exciting artist’s sketch of a portion of the Centennial Terrace.
5. Improved flow, both for visitors and for service and delivery vehicles, will be had through this space through the thoughtful restructuring of walkways.
6. We will address needed, permanent repairs to the Mirror Lake dam, its weir, and the overflow pond on the northeast side of the lake.
With all of these details, you might feel that the design work is 100% done, but no, there’s more. Soon, after completing schematic design, we will go into “design development,” where all of the nitty-gritty details will be determined. This process will leave us with only the construction documents to be drawn afterward!
When we announced at the turn of the year that we had met the challenge from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, this is what these funds were raised to do. Through the Daniel Foundation, and because of all of you who stepped in to help us reach the $100,000 match, we are well on our way in the design process to envision what the Historic Core, the heart and soul of Bellingrath Gardens & Home, will be for its next 100 years!
Thank you.
Todd