MADRONE Landscape Architecture

Jon Ahrens is a quiet man with a strong presence and body language that suggests great yet humble strength. This suits him well, as he leads a team of fellow designers and a crew of men—Madrone Landscape Architecture—that re-shape the earth into more perfect and idealized visions of what nature might have done.

His elegant yet organic identity system will literally take root with his clients. A first for our studio, we worked with a paper manufacturer to produce a 100% compostable identity system. Created with live native seeds, when planted it will produce Mealy Blue Sage (a flowering sage) and Blue Grama grass—chosen and specified by Jon specifically for their viability in this region of Texas.

Once again we place our voice as a design studio within that of the client. Quiet, unassuming, highly educated and knowledgeable (ask Jon the scientific name of any plant they specify and when it will bloom or go dormant), Jon executes design for his clients that follows a simple idea: respect the earth. Jon is not interested in a style of landscape architecture, he’s interested in a methodology.

As are we.

As a research based brand consultancy, it’s critical to know and understand context. Jon’s clients have exacting taste. Jon’s work is beautiful but unassuming. The image of the profession—his competitors—is riddled with imagery of trees, seeds, flowers.

Jon’s identity produces flowers. The patterns in his identity system reflect the complexity and mystery found at the root of mother nature’s workings, not just their outcome. The simplicity and work-a-day strength of the typeface is devoid of affectation or unnecessary intervention, as are the words it reveals in his brand promissory. It defers to the work.

Madrone Landscape Architecture is an award winning practice located in Austin, Texas with some of the finest residential projects in the city in their client roster and an award winning memorial park in San Antonio.

Detail of Madrone’s letter-pressed brand announcement–you can see the texture of the seeds embedded in the paper

Reverse side of the brand announcement. The Madrone LDC pattern is an original pattern designed specifically for Madrone. It exists in a constant state of flux —it may be read as growing or receding—reflecting the natural cycle of growth and dormancy in nature.

Brand announcement wetted and ready to be planted.

Front side of the letter-pressed business card.

Reverse side of the business card, wetted and ready to be planted

Once wet, the paper and ink begin to break down, creating a pulp that aids in feeding the seeds as they begin to take root.

The business cards and brand announcements for Madrone are completely compost-able and made with native Texas seeds that will sprout with a little earth and water.

The Madrone print system includes business cards, envelopes, letterhead, brand announcements, and thank you cards.

Madrone brochure.

Featured photography by FÖDA Studio

Landscape photography by FÖDA Studio.

Detail of the letter-pressing on the brand announcements.

Madrone portfolio website designed by FÖDA Studio.

Blue Grama Grass-native Texas seeds imbedded in the Madrone seed paper. Image courtesy of waterwiseplants.utah.gov

Mealy Blue Sage-native Texas seeds imbedded in the Madrone seed paper. Image courtesy of city-data.com

Client: Jon Ahrens, Madrone LDC.
Creative Director: Jett Butler
Design Development: Jett Butler, Melissa Martin, and Sissy Emmons
Website Coding: Caspar Lam
*Both the Madrone brochure and website feature landscape photography by Jett Butler
Copy Writing in collaboration with Holly Gonzalez.
Letter-pressing by Sarah Wymer of Studio SloMo