Hocker

Description

A visually stunning overview of the work of internationally recognized, award-winning landscape architecture studio Hocker, whose thoughtfully conceived projects reveal a deep understanding of environment and materials, and express a strikingly contemporary point of view. This monograph is the first to present the work of the award-winning, Texas-based but internationally recognized landscape architecture studio Hocker. Founded in 2005 by David L. Hocker, the studio has over fifteen years of practice earned wide acclaim for projects that are meticulously detailed, evince a superlative understanding of materials, thoughtfully address environmental context, and promote an arrestingly contemporary aesthetic. Hocker's work, and the fifteen projects featured in the book, represent a range of typologies, from residential gardens to urban parks. Among them are landscapes for a weekend retreat in the Sonoma Hills (winner of the 2019 ASLA Award of Excellence), a former power station-turned-contemporary art center (winner of a 2016 ASLA Honor Award), the revitalized Dallas Museum of Art (winner of a 2017 ASLA Texas Chapter Merit Award), a historic synagogue, and a Cistercian abbey and preparatory school. Equipped with the knowledge necessary to confront complex environmental and programmatic challenges, Hocker nevertheless approaches each project with the ambition of creating spaces that are simple and restrained, but beautiful and engaging.

David Hocker is the president, founder, and lead designer of Hocker, a Dallas-based landscape architecture studio that approaches each project with a strong, hands-on methodology and a vast knowledge of horticulture. Hocker's work is distinguished by a clear aesthetic, a creative use of sustainable materials and native or adaptive plants, and responsible and innovative solutions to design challenges. Over his career, Hocker and his eponymous studio have earned nearly 50 awards and in 2019 Hocker was a juror for the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards. Helen Thompson is a nationally known writer whose areas of specialty are interior design, architecture, and food. Helen was a food writer and editor for Texas Monthly for 17 years, and the Texas city editor for Metropolitan Home for 14 years. She has also written and produced articles for Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, and Veranda, and many other magazines. She is the author of Marfa Modern and Texas Made/Texas Modern.

"Merely to flip through the lush new monograph on the work of Dallas-based landscape architect David Hocker is to understand why his firm is among the most respected by his peers." - Mark Lamster, The Dallas Morning News "Handsomely illustrated with bold color photography, site drawings, and plans . . . This stylish compendium will stand out on the coffee tables and shelves of design-minded readers." - Publishers Weekly "[A] feast for your eyes . . . a collection of forward-thinking projects by the titular Dallas landscape architecture firm. . . . It's work that's groundbreaking in both the literal and figurative sense." - D Magazine "Bountifully illustrated with full-color photographs . . .the book further solidifies Hocker's reputation." - Landscape Architecture Magazine It is a celebration of a body of work that proves [the] postulation in the opening pages: Architecture and landscape become admirable equals in the most beautifully balanced projects. - 360 West