Ann Kearsley is a registered landscape architect and urban designer and the owner and founding principal of Ann Kearsley Design based in Portland, ME. AKD specializes in ecologically based landscape design, connecting landscape form and spatial structure to the dynamics of a site’s natural systems and the enhancement of ecosystem function. The firm’s work ranges from large-scale master planning to public parks and private gardens and includes numerous public and private landscapes for sculpture. AKD has extensive experience with the planning and design of agricultural landscapes where farming operations are integrated with experiential educational programming, research and community outreach. Kearsley’s current research focuses on the relationship between land use and carbon sequestration and on adapting the techniques of regenerative agricultural for use in the development of public and private non-agricultural landscapes.
Kearsley holds masters’ degrees in both landscape architecture and urban design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and an AB in English literature from Dartmouth College. She is a frequent presenter at local and regional conferences on ecological landscape design and stormwater management and has chaired workshops and symposiums on the integration of landscape architecture and ecological restoration at the Society for Ecological Restoration’s International and European Conferences (Iceland 2018, Brazil 2017, Germany 2016).
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
LDAR 2252-01 - PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LDAR 2252-01
PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Ann Kearsley, Hope LeesonLocation(s): Weybosset St Studios, Room 105B; Weybosset St Studios, Room 105AEnrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will explore the botanical, horticultural and ecological aspects of plants and plant communities. Through lectures and field trips, students will become familiar with the form, physical qualities, identifying characteristics, seasonal aspect, preferred growing conditions, native habitats and ecological function of common plants of New England. In addition, lectures will focus on contemporary ecological theories around disturbance ecology and ecological succession to gain an understanding of how designers can work with these forces to shape landscapes over time.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Landscape Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MLA-I Landscape Architecture
LDAR 2252-02 - PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
LDAR 2252-02
PLANTS: BOTANY AND ECOLOGY
LevelGraduate
UnitLandscape Architecture
Subject Landscape Architecture
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Ann Kearsley, Hope LeesonLocation(s): Weybosset St Studios, Room 105B; Weybosset St Studios, Room 105AEnrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will explore the botanical, horticultural and ecological aspects of plants and plant communities. Through lectures and field trips, students will become familiar with the form, physical qualities, identifying characteristics, seasonal aspect, preferred growing conditions, native habitats and ecological function of common plants of New England. In addition, lectures will focus on contemporary ecological theories around disturbance ecology and ecological succession to gain an understanding of how designers can work with these forces to shape landscapes over time.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Landscape Architecture Students.
