Who is Walter J. Hood Jr.?
In a profession where over 98% of landscape architects are white, Walter J. Hood Jr. stood out. He forged a trail-blazingly beautiful career that's redefining the field of landscape architecture with principles rooted in permaculture.
Designing with Nature and Community in Mind
Walter's work incorporates permaculture elements, blending natural resilience with community engagement:
Edible landscapes and community gardens (Splash Pad)
High energy-focused and child-friendly PV array zone at UB - (The Solar Strand)
Native Plant species conservation - (Oakland Museum of CA)
Radical Public art installation merged w/ native plants (End of Mass Resistance Memorial)
Awards and Recognition
His innovative spirit earned him prestigious awards, including:
MacArthur Fellowship (2019)
National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt (2017)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Design Medal (2016)
Learn more about his work here: Art Institute of Chicago interview
