HISTORY:
Truman Hall, the residence of US Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a traditional Flemish country estate built in 1963 for Cote d’Or chocolatier Jean Michiels. The landscape was designed by Belgian landscape architect René Pechère, one of the best-known contemporary landscape architects in Europe. The property was acquired by the U.S. in 1983 and named after President Harry S. Truman. The property has evolved to a point where several mature trees have been lost, many overgrown, important views obscured, and volunteer plant species have established themselves. Unfortunately, several changes have been made which have diluted the original Pechère design. The gardens are made up of many types of gardens, which require needs for their specific restoration.
OPPORTUNITY:
The two Walled Gardens which includes the Family Garden, and the Four Seasons Gardens, are one of the Priority Projects of the Restoration Plan. The opportunity is to reestablish the Family Garden for entire family, including family-oriented furniture, plantings with color added to enliven the space, reestablish vines to soften back wall, remove damaged paving, and expand hardscape space for more flexibility. The opportunity for the Four Seasons Garden is to modify the plant palette for year-round interest.
COST:
$70,000
PROJECT DURATION:
2 Years