On August 17th, most of the Berger Partnership team headed by ferry to Whidbey Island for a full day retreat. Stops on the trip included Clinton Beach Park, multiple area residences, Bayview Farm and Garden, Inn at Langley & the Berger Family Cabin. Everyone had a great time speaking with residents, playing with their dogs and taking in the landscape.

The article, Selling Houses by the Yard, featured in both the Wall Street Journal, the DJC and Real Estate Journal states that a well designed landscape can add 7 - 15% to the asking price of a home. Read this article for more information!

The Berger Partnership asks you to join Architects Without Borders and participate in a September 8th Design Charette to generate ideas for Habitat for Humanity’s Roxbury Housing Development in West Seattle. Roxbury is a group of 10 Habitat for Humanity homes that were built with a central courtyard that is creating challenges for the surrounding families. Join us for a daylong charette to help redesign this shared space alongside the residents. This will be followed up with a workday in the fall to install the design. This is a great opportunity for multidisciplinary design collaboration with landscape architects and architects.

The charett takes place on Saturday, September 8th, 2007 at 2400 SW Roxbury; lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by September 5th by emailing Rachael Meyer or calling at 206.325.6877.

Directions to 2400 SW Roxbury:

• From I-5, take the West Seattle Bridge to West Seattle
• Turn left on 35th Avenue SW after crossing the W. Seattle Bridge
• Continue on 35th for approximately 3.2 miles
• Turn left on SW Roxbury and drive 10 blocks to the site, on your left between 25th and 24th Avenue
• Street parking can be found on 24th or 25th Avenue SW

Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested in this charette opportunity!

Matt has investigated green roofs, rainwater harvesting and stormwater planters. Jonathan, Whitney and Matt will go to Islandwood Environmental Learning Center this week to study the Living Machine system. With this last site visit, the research element of the internship will be complete. Matt will present the information from all of the site visits and research done at the office to everyone here at the Berger Partnership in a lunch presentation.

Matt has been working on Sketchup models for Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a Capitol Hill Residence and Waterview. He is also developing a graphic for Cal Anderson Park, showing the reservoir under most of the park.