Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.

Casey Key Residence

lgilkey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:23:56 +0000

Type: Single Family Residence
Location: Casey Key, FL
Year Completed: 2011

Gilkey, Jr. Selected for UF Advisory Council

lgilkey — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 03:56:15 +0000

Michael A. Gilkey, Jr., a Florida registered and licensed landscape architect with Michael A. Gilkey, Inc., has accepted a position on the Advisory Council for the University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture.

The Department of Landscape Architecture is celebrating more than 75 years of landscape architecture education at the University of Florida (UF). Their accredited graduate and undergraduate programs are home to more than 100 students. Ten faculty members enrich the teaching, service and research mission of the department through their diverse planning and design expertise. The Department offers a Bachelor’s degree, First Professional and Post Professional Master’s degrees and a Ph.D. degree from the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) with a concentration in Landscape Architecture.

To ensure that the Department’s programs continue to meet the needs of the profession, an Advisory Council consisting of industry leaders from several related design disciplines has been assembled from across the country. The Council will work with faculty to improve current programs, and to help guide future educational and research program offerings from the department.

“Michael is a graduate who has made a name for himself and his firm for quality work,” says Kay Williams, FASLA, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at UF. “His active participation in the social and academic life of the department as a student has translated into a mentoring role that ranges from funded awards that speak directly to the student’s experiences here to professional involvement in studio projects.”

For more information about the University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture, please visit www.dcp.ufl.edu/landscape, or call (352) 392-6098.

Sarasota Herald Tribune: 4 Questions for a Pro

lgilkey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:20:58 +0000

We were honored when the Sarasota Herald-Tribune selected Michael Gilkey, Jr. in to interview for their “4 Questions for a Pro” feature in May 2011. Their questions and his answers follow in their entirety.

A licensed landscape architect who took over his father’s company, Michael Gilkey focuses on residential properties, with designs that reflect the physical requirements of a site and the needs of the owner. He is also a contractor: His company is able to do the actual installations, not just the planning and design. Correspondent Chris Angermann met with him at his Ashton Road office to talk about his profession and how he approaches his work.

Q: What is landscape architecture?

A: The field is very broad, covering everything from stormwater management to road alignment. The scale can be as large as a state or national park. Our firm specializes in residential design, a small corner of the field. Most landscape architects don’t work at the scale we do — 100- to 200-foot lots. We use the ground plan to define space just as you would in the interior of a room, breaking up areas with trees, shrubbery and other physical elements that include walkways, garden sculpture, swimming pool — anything on the exterior of the house.

Q: How is landscape design different from other kinds of architecture?

A: Regular architects define space through walls and furniture; we define space and create emotion with plant material, which is going to change year after year. If we don’t understand that, we get in trouble. There are many examples of failed landscape architecture because horticulture wasn’t taken into account.

We’re working on an assessment right now for a community, and nearly a quarter of the oak trees will have to be removed because they were placed within 10 feet of the houses. Ten years ago, when they were planted, these trees were beautiful; but now they’re causing damage to foundations, driveways and sidewalks. You can have fun with shrubbery and make mistakes. You can go in next year and replant the shrubs. But with a tree — an oak tree will live 200 years — you have to put it in the right place with appropriate maintenance so it will be there for generations to come.

Q: Are all landscape architects primarily focused on horticulture?

A: Actually, there is a huge gap between landscape designers and master gardeners and horticulturists. They’re like the Hatfields and the McCoys — they don’t get along. Gardeners and horticulturists are well versed in how to make things look pretty, but they usually can’t define space or create emotions. They can’t fix problems, improve water circulation or create a feeling of variety. That is done through design. Many landscape architects. on the other hand, don’t want to be constrained by any scientific or horticultural rules.

We’re sitting right in the middle. I believe that horticulture is to landscape architecture what structure is to regular architecture. You can’t push the bar of a design without understanding the structural integrity of a building. You can’t do a good landscape design if you don’t understand horticulture.

Q: What about existing homes and properties?

A: New installations are great because you have a blank. You may have an existing tree, but all in all you can impose your will on the site. But with a renovation, things are already there — walkways, trees, vegetation, infrastructure and the building. You’re not just taking what the house has to offer and making it better; you also have to deal with problems — bad views, for example — and fix them through design solutions.

What’s fun about renovation is the before and after, because it’s somewhat magical. The first day after we’re done, it looks like a bomb went off — everything has been removed. After a week, when the landscape is in, the clients are amazed at how things have changed, how different the property feels. And after a month’s time, when you go back and talk to them, they have a hard time remembering what the house used to look like.

Sarasota Architectural Foundation Welcomes Gilkey

lgilkey — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:21:38 +0000

The Sarasota Architectural Foundation is showcasing the work of landscape architects next week by welcoming Sarasota landscape architect Michael Gilkey, Jr., ASLA, to join their acclaimed lecture series. The presentation will be held in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Community Room on Thursday, May 19, at 5:30 pm.Michael Gilkey, Jr. is a Florida licensed landscape architect and president of Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. (www.magilkey.com), a landscape architecture, contracting and maintenance studio in Sarasota, Florida. Gilkey specializes in residential design-build landscape architecture in Southwest Florida. He brings a passion for design, horticulture, and conceptual process to his firm and to the community.

“I was honored when the Sarasota Architectural Foundation invited me to speak,” said Gilkey. “They are sharing with our community what Sarasota architecture looks like as a historical imprint, part of a greater context. To be invited to share my perspective is a great compliment.”

During his presentation, Gilkey will introduce his profession explain his design process from an architectural vantage point. He will explore what makes a landscape sustainable, and will showcase the work of his firm and our community while engaging the audience in casual conversation.

Event: Michael Gilkey, Jr. Presents Modern Landscapes, Thursday, May 19, 5:30 pm

Address: 1741 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

Admission: $15 SAF & AIA members – $25 non members

Reservations: info@sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org | 941-364-2199

About Sarasota Architectural Foundation: The mission of the Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) is to promote preservation and awareness of Sarasota’s architecture and design, beginning with the Sarasota School of Architecture and beyond. SAF was formed to focus on the ongoing preservation and celebration of the Sarasota School structures, and the promotion of architectural excellence within the Sarasota community. For more information, please visitwww.sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org or call 941-364-2199.

About Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.: Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a landscape architecture studio in Sarasota, Florida, established in 1981. Through a passion for pure design and personal relationships with architects, contractors and homeowners, Gilkey creates expressions of outdoor space that are direct translations of their clients’ visions. For more information, please visit www.magilkey.com or call (941) 924-0132.

Palma Sola Residence

lgilkey — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:04:50 +0000

Type: Single Family Residence
Location: Anna Maria Island, FL
Year Completed: 2009

It was an honor to collaborate with architect Jonathan Parks in designing this Palma Sola residence, where outdoor living is paramount to the client. The design concept for this project was to interweave the swimming pool and the two new structures designed by Parks to the existing residence through the use of landscape elements to create an emotion that embodies outdoor living. Each of these three structures uniquely relates to the water element within the framework of their individual gardens. Turfblock and grass were used on the ground plane in three different ways to further delineate and simultaneously unify these spaces. Each of the three gardens boasts a unique color palette. A grid of Vetchii Palms creates an outdoor ceiling. The result of these and other elements is a playful juxtaposition between indoor and outdoor space. Drought tolerant, salt tolerant, and native or proven materials were used in this landscape, as well as low volume and Waterwise irrigation practices, ensuring sustainability.

Venice Island Residence

lgilkey — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:43:40 +0000

Type: Sustainable Design
Location: Venice, FL
Year Completed: 2009

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. was pleased to collaborate with Jonathan Parks Architect in creating a sustainable landscape for this Venice Island residence, architecturally inspired by the principles of origami. We used native plant material and recycled aggregate to create a modern Florida-Friendly garden, and incorporated a custom designed rainwater harvesting eco-fountain in the front yard. The use of turf was limited by using native wildflowers for lawn areas.

Gilkey, Jr. Voted Best Landscape Architect

lgilkey — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:02:53 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Michael A. Gilkey, Jr. has been named Best Landscape Architect in the 2011 Best of SRQ Local Reader’s Choice Competition, featured in the April 2011 SRQ Magazine. The following excerpts were also printed in the issue.

Architecture is such a big deal in Srasota that readers demanded our poll include a subcategory just for the landscape architects that beautify our green spaces in Southwest Florida. In this contest, Michael A. Gilkey, Jr. snagged the blue (or is it green?) ribbon thanks to a commitment to beautify and an ability to please customers.

Mattias Carlsson on Gilkey landscapes: “He really respects the environment and creates unique and natural looking landscape designs.”

Caroline Clausen on why Michael Gilkey is her landscape architect: “I feel Michael really listens to what the client likes. He doesn’t imposed a preconceived ‘Gilkey’ landscape, but rather designs a vision from the collaborative effort.”

South Casey Key Home Wins Gold

lgilkey — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:05:06 +0000

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. was honored to win Gold for Best Landscape in the 2011 SRQ Home of the Year Awards, recognizing the South Casey Key residence. The project description as printed in SRQ Magazine follows in its entirety.

The objective for this Casey Key landscape was to create an old country Spanish-inspired aesthetic in a casual garden setting. This vision was achieved through a marriage of resort-style landscape with Mediterranean-inspired hardscape elements. The dense, tropical landscape includes several sculptural pieces and Spanish clay pots filled with playful, textural plants. Anchoring the garden are a custom designed and specified millstone fountain and a lagoon style pool, the destinations of a sprawling, hand-laid flagstone walkway. Intensive dune mitigation and native plant preservation efforts were undertaken to ensure that the unique Gulf-front context of this property was uncompromised. Drought tolerant, salt tolerant and native or proven materials were used, as well as low volume, waterwise irrigation practices, ensuring sustainability. This project culminated in a successful series of vistas and viewsheds that celebrate the home’s Gulf of Mexico exposure and Mediterranean inspiration.

Credits:

Landscape Architect: Michael A. Gilkey, Jr.

Architect: Cliff Scholz, CMSA

Interior Designer: Allen Holmes

Builder: Monogram Builders

Photography: Gana Gilkey

South Casey Key Residence

lgilkey — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:18:08 +0000

Type: Single Family Residence
Location: Casey Key, FL
Year Completed: 2009

Working with CMSA Architects, two incredible clients, and a dream team of contractors made completing this South Casey Key residence a true pleasure. The resort style landscape showcases a millstone fountain that we designed and specified, and several sculptural elements tucked within the landscape. Our scope of design included a sprawling flagstone hardscape, lagoon style pool, and dense tropical landscape, which combine to create vistas and viewsheds that celebrate this home’s Gulf exposure. Throughout the poperty, urns and vessels are filled with playful, textural plant elements, bringing the bright design to eye level. Dune mitigation and careful native plant preservation efforts were undertaken to ensure that the unique context of this property was uncompromised. Drought tolerant, salt tolerant, and native or proven materials were used in this landscape, as well as low volume and Waterwise irrigation practices, ensuring sustainability.

Casey Key Landscape Featured in SRQ

lgilkey — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:16:04 +0000

The Carl Abbott home we were recently fortunate enough to landscape was featured in the July issue of SRQ magazine. The article, entitled “Seaside Garden” by Abby Weingarten, follows in its entirety.

At the end of Casey Key Road, against a horizon of jet-skiers trailing foam across an aquamarine waterway, Gary and Heidi Sankes’ home blends seamlessly into the Florida backdrop. Thanks to the vision of Sarasota landscape architect Michael A. Gilkey, Jr., a sunken garden in the front and a shelled private beach by the shore now flank the Carl Abbott-designed structure. The spring renovation has transformed unusable pathways and an overgrown mass of foliage into a sustainable green space on the barrier island. “I respect Carl Abbott’s designs, and he likes his yards to be in contrast with his houses,” Gilkey, vice president of the design-build firm Michael A. Gilkey Inc., says of the Sarasota modern architect. “This house is very sharp and angular and the vegetation is very loose—freeform.”

The three-story, 7,000-square-foot white stucco house was built in 1994, and the 16 years of hands-off growth had turned the landscape into a bit of an unkempt jungle. Gary, a contractor from upstate New York, and Heidi, a designer, purchased the home in 2003, and sought out Gilkey and his team to revitalize the exterior. “Michael thinks outside the box,” Gary says. “What he had in mind really fit the house and the environment. He doesn’t do the same thing at every house so it’s unique.”

Gilkey strove to maintain a wild, indigenous vibe on the Sankes’ land while also making it utilitarian, engaging and evoking of emotion. He salvaged some shrubs, kept all of the existing palm trees and added more, and blocked off the previously wide-open view of the neighbors across the street. Heidi was adamant about reusing the natural findings on the property, so Gilkey pulled back the vegetation and unearthed hidden stones and boulders to arrange in semicircles and use as sculpture mounts. “When I first started the project, the landscape had become one monochromatic piece and all it did was juxtapose the house, so it just wasn’t inviting anymore,” Gilkey says. “I wanted to add focus to the house and the garden.”

Bringing the garden entry to the first terrace, Gilkey created a drop-down effect and selected white decorative concrete pavers (with mother of pearl and blue glass inlays) to replace the old flagstone on the path. He staggered the steppingstones, which Concrete Countertops Etc. had manufactured, in a keyboard pattern with sleek black rocks for accents. Gilkey introduced a green-and-fuchsia bromeliad to the garden that will mature over 20 years to a six-foot-wide, eight-foot-tall marvel, and complemented it with smaller versions of itself throughout. Because Gary and Heidi are art collectors, Gilkey incorporated a few of their pieces into the layout, including some wrought iron and colored glass sculptures of frogs and chameleons that illuminate at night. Now, the Sankes’ oversized lizard and amphibian are camouflaged in Gilkey’s rainforest-like setting. The aroma of rosemary catches the breeze along the garden passage, one side of which is lined with recycled flagstone, and a butterfly garden with milkweed attracts fluttering black-and-orange monarchs.

“It’s a kind of a dressed-up overgrown landscape now,” Gilkey says. “It pays homage to Carl Abbott’s vision but freshens it up. There’s a nice stark contrast of beautiful lush vegetation and a crisp white house.” While the poolside garden wraps around the front and left side of the home, a built-in beach now takes advantage of the crystal blue waterfront to the rear. Gilkey had to work around a tall, county-mandated seawall, which prevented the Sankes from tiptoeing out into the surf in their backyard.The shoreline had also eroded, and the 20 feet of beach that Casey Key once boasted was significantly reduced. The Sankes could now walk down a case of wooden stairs to reach the ocean but there wasn’t even enough room for a personal setup of towels and umbrellas. Gilkey’s solution: bring the beach directly to them. He hauled in crushed shells, white sand, sea grass and Carissa plants to forge a makeshift dune outside of the Sankes’ sliding glass doors and guesthouse. Gary can now play golf on his backyard putting green while Heidi relaxes on a cabana chair and watches her grandson construct sandcastles. It’s a private retreat that picks up the echo of crashing waves and a panoramic view of the sunset.