Project Overview

The Omega Institute, the nation's largest and most trusted holistic education provider partnered with The Crossings.. a new progressive learning center outside Austin, Texas, to create a premier center in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The Omega Institute is known for its pioneering work in holistic health, meditation.. yoga, transformational psychology, spirituality, world music and art. The intent and philosophy of the Omega Institute is reflected in the clean simple lines of the landscape, the preservation of existing vegetation and the visual balance between the architecture and landscape.

The center includes 125 guest rooms in seven lodge buildings. Four specialty buildings are also on the site and include a wellness-spa center, a meeting center, a dining hall and a welcome center/library facility. The center is situated on 210 acres of land, only 35 of which are developed. The project incorporated 'green building" principals and took five years to design and build.

The center offers the highest level of education and retreat facilities available anywhere. A key objective of the landscape design was to reflect Omega's philosophy while incorporating the natural landscape elements of the Texas Hill Country.

Project Description & Role of the Landscape Architect

The use of materials and forms that complement the architecture was important to create harmony and reflect the feel of the Texas Hill Country.

Limestone is a dominant feature of the natural landscape in the Hill Country and is used throughout the property, along rustic nature paths and on the main lawn of the center. Large limestone boulders placed along gravel trails provide stopping points and visual interest. The strong form of the architecture juxtaposed against the natural forms in the landscape provides a dramatic visual contrast.

The landscape architect supplemented the natural beauty of the Austin landscape and native plantings with ornamental grasses and fragrant herbs. Existing trees were

preserved as natural sculpture elements throughout the property. Limestone walls surrounding the garden areas accommodate the existing trees, providing a dramatic backdrop for them.

The landscape architect used Ornamental grasses. seasonal blooming native plants and fragrant herbs in large sweeps in close proximity to the building for visitors to enjoy. Wildflower meadows mark a lower level of landscape development and maintenance outside of the center. Selected plantings are labeled to create a botanical experience, educating the visitor on the name, origins and qualities of the plant materials.

A large lawn with preserved trees borders the meeting center and provides a peaceful space for outdoor stretching.. yoga, tai chi and meditation.

The dining terrace is an important place where diners can enjoy sweeping views of Lake Travis in Austin. Existing trees were carefully considered in the design of the dining area and help define the limits of the terrace. The landscape architect defined a sweeping view from the dining terrace that showcases the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Handrails that would obstruct the view and eliminate the dramatic edge of the terrace were avoided through the use of stepped walls.

Design Approach

The design strategy was to create a memorable sensory experience, one that captured the spirit of place and enhanced it through thoughtful design of the exterior environment.

The approach to the landscape design largely focused on preserving and incorporating the rustic elements of the native Austin landscape. The owner had specific requests for preserving vegetation in original locations that presented some design challenges.

The landscape architect needed to be particularly sensitive to the concerns of the nearby Balcones Canyon Lands Preserve. The preserve is home to a wide variety of birds and is a habitat for coyotes, bobcats, white-tailed deer and armadillos.

The Landscape design considered these factors primarily through limiting the amount of disturbance in the area by using existing trees and vegetation.

Project Impact and Significance

The Crossings is a place of sanctuary where people can come to learn new skills, to find inspiration and life direction, and to rest and heal from the stress and strain of daily living. The property inspires people to find peace and balance in their professional, personal and spiritual lives.

The architecture and landscape work together to support these efforts by creating a seamless dialogue between the interior and exterior. Visual balance and harmony are created by incorporating the borrowed landscape into the composition whenever possible to take advantage of the prominent location of the center on the property.