rest stops: thriving in the thresholds of altadena
mission:
Rest Stops is a garden initiative born in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. Artist, Kenturah Davis, was born and raised in Altadena, and returned in 2022 to raise her family and continue her art practice. After the significant losses of both her home and parents' home, it quickly became clear that the recovery of her community would be slow and multi-faceted. Recognizing that some residents may not be able to rebuild right away, the project embarks on designing a series of sensory threshold gardens to provide reprieve amidst the barren landscape. Inspired by quilting traditions of the Black community, this project imagines a patchwork of new green spaces designed to create surprising and enriching encounters. The goal is to design and install ten gardens by the end of 2027, at no cost to the residents. Through partnerships with local property owners, native plant experts, suppliers, and mental health advocates, the project reimagines public and private thresholds- offering resilient, restorative spaces that nurture both people and the environment.
Altadena: A Rich History & Ecological Sanctuary
CREATING COMMUNAL GREEN SPACES THAT INVITE REST AND REFLECTION, WHILE DRAWING ON ALTADENA’S ECOLOGICAL, CLIMATIC, MIGRATIONAL, AND SOCIAL HISTORIES TO FOSTER RESILIENCE AND HEALING.
As a foothill community long defined by its deep connection to nature, Altadena also carries a rich legacy as a haven for Black families, teachers, and artists who migrated herein the 1950s and ’60s, building a vibrant cultural community despite red lining. Today, we face the convergence of climate change, housing disparities, and displacement. In the wake of the Eaton Fire, new insurance and municipal codes threaten to compound the loss of our tree canopy with one-size-fits-all planting restrictions. This project responds with adaptable garden designs that embrace natural materials and innovative irrigation systems, creating spaces of healing where residents can gather, reflect, and rebuild stability and belonging while supporting ecological renewal and community resilience. As Altadena embarks on the long road of recovery, the gardens will provide an intimate oasis as the community rises from the ashes.
““Every seed we plant is a prayer for the future. It’s a quiet revolution, an act of hope and healing in a world that needs both.””
Rest Stops: Design Features
CREATING COMMUNAL GREEN SPACES THAT INVITE REST AND REFLECTION, WHILE DRAWING ON ALTADENA’S ECOLOGICAL, CLIMATIC, MIGRATIONAL, AND SOCIAL HISTORIES TO FOSTER RESILIENCE AND HEALING.
As a foothill community long defined by its deep connection to nature, Altadena also carries a rich legacy as a haven for Black families, teachers, and artists who migrated herein the 1950s and ’60s, building a vibrant cultural community despite red lining. Today, we face the convergence of climate change, housing disparities, and displacement. In the wake of the Eaton Fire, new insurance and municipal codes threaten to compound the loss of our tree canopy with one-size-fits-all planting restrictions. This project responds with adaptable garden designs that embrace natural materials and innovative irrigation systems, creating spaces of healing where residents can gather, reflect, and rebuild stability and belonging while supporting ecological renewal and community resilience. As Altadena embarks on the long road of recovery, the gardens will provide an intimate oasis as the community rises from the ashes.
Altadena: A Rich History & Ecological Sanctuary
CREATING COMMUNAL GREEN SPACES THAT INVITE REST AND REFLECTION, WHILE DRAWING ON ALTADENA’S ECOLOGICAL, CLIMATIC, MIGRATIONAL, AND SOCIAL HISTORIES TO FOSTER RESILIENCE AND HEALING.
As a foothill community long defined by its deep connection to nature, Altadena also carries a rich legacy as a haven for Black families, teachers, and artists who migrated herein the 1950s and ’60s, building a vibrant cultural community despite red lining. Today, we face the convergence of climate change, housing disparities, and displacement. In the wake of the Eaton Fire, new insurance and municipal codes threaten to compound the loss of our tree canopy with one-size-fits-all planting restrictions. This project responds with adaptable garden designs that embrace natural materials and innovative irrigation systems, creating spaces of healing where residents can gather, reflect, and rebuild stability and belonging while supporting ecological renewal and community resilience. As Altadena embarks on the long road of recovery, the gardens will provide an intimate oasis as the community rises from the ashes.
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