Kate Orff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kate Orff
Orff in 2015
Born	1971 (age 53–54)
Education	B.A., University of Virginia, 1993 M.L.A., Harvard University, 1997
Occupation	Landscape architect

Kate Orff (born 1971) is an American landscape architect. She is the founder of SCAPE, a design studio in New York that focuses on landscape architecture and urban design. She also helps lead the Urban Design Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

Kate Orff is known for her work that helps nature and cities deal with climate change. She also focuses on bringing people together through public spaces. She has written books, been an activist, done research, and completed many projects.

Her work is known for being creative and collaborative. She aims to improve the environment and social life in cities. She has designed projects all over the United States and in other countries. Orff often gives talks about urban landscapes and new ways to design for our changing world. She was the first landscape architect to receive a special award called a MacArthur Fellowship.

In 2011, Elle magazine called her one of nine women who are "fixers" for humanity. This was because of her idea called "oyster-tecture." This plan uses oyster reefs to help clean the water around New York City.

Early Life and Education

Kate Orff grew up in Crofton, Maryland. This was a suburban area designed mostly for cars. During her high school years, she had different jobs. One summer, she worked at a plant nursery. There, she learned a lot about plants and started to enjoy gardening.

Orff went to the University of Virginia. She studied Political and Social Thought, which allowed her to explore many subjects. She looked into women's studies, environmental science, and art. She realized that landscape architecture combined her interests in science, politics, and art.

After graduating, she traveled to Chile. Later, she earned a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University.

Design Philosophy

Kate Orff believes that landscape architects should do more than just make places look pretty. She thinks they should help fix natural systems and connect people through shared spaces. She says that for a long time, landscape architects focused on gardens while the planet's health was overlooked.

Her goal is to bring attention back to Earth's natural systems. She wants to link these systems to city planning and building projects. This helps create strong landscapes that can handle future environmental challenges, like rising sea levels.

Orff started her studio, SCAPE, in 2007. SCAPE is famous for its projects that focus on ecology and sustainability. Orff and her team use science and research to create designs. They also take an active approach to caring for the environment.

Career Highlights

Kate Orff started her own design practice in New York in 2004. By 2007, she had employees and officially named her firm SCAPE.

One of SCAPE's most famous designs is "Oyster-tecture." This project uses oyster reefs to clean polluted water. It also helps protect coastlines from storms and rising sea levels. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Orff and SCAPE were chosen to help rebuild New York City. Their job was to use natural systems to protect the coast and improve the environment.

In 2014, SCAPE won the Rebuild By Design competition. Their winning project was called "Living Breakwaters." This project, inspired by Oyster-tecture, helps reduce erosion along the Brooklyn shoreline in New York. Living Breakwaters uses natural oyster reefs that can clean millions of liters of harbor water every day. This project has won several awards, including the Buckminster Fuller Challenge.

In 2017, Orff received a "Genius Grant" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She got this award for her designs that create strong and adaptable natural spaces. Her work encourages people to take care of the environment around them.

In 2019, Kate Orff was recognized as a "Hero of the Harbor" by the Waterfront Alliance. In January 2024, she received an honorary doctorate from the Delft University of Technology for her important work.

Credentials

Kate Orff is a licensed landscape architect in many states across the U.S.

Major Works

Kate Orff has written several books. In 2011, Princeton University published Gateway, Visions for an Urban National Park. In 2012, Petrochemical America was published. This book featured photos by Richard Misrach of the industrialized Mississippi River. It also included visual stories by Orff and her team at SCAPE.

See also

In Spanish: Kate Orff para niños