NEWS
maY 1, 2024
SOUTH OCEAN BEACH CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT
We are thrilled to be part of the multi-agency effort between SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), National Park Service (NPS), SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), SF Rec & Parks Department (RPD) and SF Department of Public Works (DPW) to implement key initiatives of the Ocean Beach Master Plan under the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project. As one of the first city led climate focused projects, this work is necessary to address climate induced sea level rise, removal of shoreline armoring, improvements to public access and enhance recreation, and to protect the integrity of wastewater assets built in response to the Clean Water Act. MFLA are focused on designing long term solutions around coastal/beach access trails, parking, amenities, intersection improvements, revegetation of bluffs and bioretention basins for environmental resilience. Enabling all visitors and residents to safely enjoy this iconic San Francisco coastline is a valuable consideration as we move through each design phase. To read more about the project on SF Chronicle click HERE.
OCTOBER 4-5, 2024
DESIGN HEALDSBURG | EVOLVING LANDSCAPES
MFLA were honored to be one of the design ambassadors for the inaugural annual design week event recently held at various locations around the city of Healdsburg. Created by DesignBayArea, a platform dedicated to promoting design, the arts and culture between creative industries, Design Healdsburg kicked off with an opening reception co-hosted by SkLO and MFLA. The ‘Open Studio’ style gathering with individuals from interiors, architecture, landscape, lighting and art was an exciting start to the experience.
As part of the events throughout the weekend, Partner at MFLA, James Munden, took part in a fireside chat entitled, Evolving Landscapes. The conversation was about how landscape architecture + design contributes to the reciprocal relationships we have with the land. How has the history of Healdsburg as an agricultural community contributed to its evolution and how will it help us thrive into the future?
Jim Heid of CraftWork moderated the discussion with James and Lucas Dexter of Dexter Estate Landscapes. An abridged version of the discussion will be featured on the DesignBayArea site soon in case you missed it.
Credit: Rendering by MFLA
march 20, 2024
MFLA VOLUNTEERS IN THE PRESIDIO
The studio spent half a day getting their hands dirty with the Presidio Trust in meadow restoration near Quarry Rd. By removing invasive species, native planting like Wild Lupine, Yarrow, Ground Iris and California Buckwheat will be able to flourish. The Variable Checkerspot larvae caterpillars are a common pollinator in the western states of North America along the West Coast from Baja to Alaska. They were once prevalent in San Francisco but are now isolated to one remnant population at Laguna Honda Reservoir. The primary cause of its decline in the city was habitat loss due to the host plant (bee plant and sticky monkey flower) dying out. These species are one of the wildlife reintroductions done by the Presidio, first released in 2019 after not being observed here since 1978. They have since spread throughout the Presidio and are one of the most successful reintroduction projects so far.
OCTOBEr 19, 2023
MFLA FEATURES IN THE LANDSCAPE LIBRARY ONLINE
We have just been recognized in growing industry online journal ‘The Landscape Library’ featuring our landscape design on Silver Oak Alexander Valley Winery. The piece focuses on the sustainable certifications the project achieved in collaboration with the client, architects and contractors while ‘framing the vineyards’ and preserving the site’s natural ecologies.
Read the full article HERE
Image Copyright: Santa Lucia Preserve
September 14, 2023
MFLA JOINS DESIGN DIALOGUES 2023 PANEL
The Design Dialogues (DD) are a series of design focused panel conversations, curated by CraftWork (Healdsburg’s bespoke co working space) with support from Mill District. They emanate from the Founder of Craftwork’s desire to celebrate and showcase the considerable design talent and forward thinking projects that are occurring in and around Healdsburg.
MFLA’s Studio Partner, James Munden, will be one of three industry leaders discussing the importance of holding sustainable development accountable in our community using Silver Oak Alexander Valley as a case study for his landscape design work.
OCTOBEr 12, 2023
SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE RESIDENCE MILESTONE
Sited within a 20,000 acre Preserve along the California Coast that is a protected land trust, this future residence will sit within 2,000 acres allocated for responsible, residential development. Owners must commit to the strict land management and stewardship practices with minimal building footprint and openland space for existing habitats. This month, construction has begun on building a design that both connects occupants to nature and creates a positive impact on the surrounding natural systems.
In collaboration with the clients, Feldman Architecture and consultants, MFLA have been involved in ensuring the building’s landscape design will at a minimum, reach CORE certification standards of the Living Building Challenge.
May 11, 2023
MFLA RECEIVES DOUBLE HONOR AWARD IN THE WORLD LANDSCAPE DESIGN AWARDS 2023
MFLA is excited to announce that two of our projects won the Honor Award in WLA Awards for Concept - Small Design. The Santa Lucia Preserve Residence, in collaboration with Feldman Architecture, is located amongst a protected natural landscape within a community preserve in Carmel, CA. A shared vision between the client and design team is to attain The Living Building Challenge Certification for sustainability across the building and landscape. Bernal Heights Residence, San Francisco is a steep, multi-level site providing dramatic downtown views and opportunities for dynamic outdoor spaces. A custom sculptural wall and trellis system teamed with native, climate appropriate planting created intimate outdoor living areas that were in dialogue with the house, designed by Medium Plenty.
February 28, 2023
MFLA FEATURED IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN MAGAZINE FOR SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE HOME IN CARMEL, CA
MFLA, in collaboration with Feldman Architecture, are attempting The Living Building Challenge once again, but in a residential setting. If achieved, this would be the first home in California with this certification. Interlocking, curved volumes of the building create opportunities for intimate courtyards and an effortless immersion to the outdoors with varied vantage points of the lush Preserve. The photovoltaics on the green roof generate its own power, rain & greywater collection systems throughout the site substantially reduce consumption and carefully considered plant species reinforce the focus on climate action.
October 25, 2022
MFLA BEING FEATURED AT THE ASLA 2022 SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 14TH
Munden Fry Landscape Associates is excited to announce our involvement in two events within the upcoming ASLA Conference 2022, San Francisco on November 14th. The first field session, led by our Partner James Munden, within the Resiliency & Stewardship education track called ‘Living Building Challenge: Navigating an Environmentally Responsive Winery from Production to Tasting’. Wine grapes are among the top 10 most water intensive crops in California, presenting an opportunity for an industry steeped in tradition to become a leader in regenerative systems and infrastructure. Register HERE & join us at our project, Silver Oak Alexander Valley Winery.
The second session is with the Northern California Chapter of ASLA for the WILA Walk (Women in Landscape Architecture) to explore San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood. Our partner, Marta Fry, developed the “Transbay Redevelopment Project Area Streetscape & Open Space Concept Plan” design guidelines for the District which will frame the WILA walking tour.
More info on the ASLA website: www.aslaconference.com
September 19, 2022
COLE VALLEY RESIDENCE FEATURED IN DEZEEN & THE ARCHITECT’S NEWSPAPER AS NOTABLE SAN FRANCISCO PROJECT
“A tall hillside home featuring expansive views and an elevator that will enable the owners to stay in the home as they age.
Rising five levels, the house was designed for a couple who wanted a home with a peaceful atmosphere and views of San Francisco. The site's complex geology and the clients' desires inform a composition of shifting volumes that define a series of indoor and outdoor spaces – from the intimate to the breathtaking – while providing shading and privacy."
APRIL 28, 2022
COLE VALLEY RESIDENCE PROJECT IS HONORED WITH A MERIT AWARD FOR THE 2022 AIASF AWARDS
In collaboration with Jensen Architects, this residential project exhibits a great example of a typical San Francisco urban garden with a small footprint on multi-levels. Due to its challenging hillside location, the team worked together to maximize the outdoor space while keeping it intimate, dynamic and unpretentious.
The landscape design reflects an intimate space inspired by Asian and Zen style gardens with a strong focus on responding to the natural topography of the site. A series of earth mounds ripple down the hillside and redirect surface water runoff to planting areas. These areas resemble undulating mountains depicted in traditional Chinese landscape paintings
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
MFLA IS FEATURED ON DESIGN BOOM WITH ALEXANDER VALLEY SILVER OAK WINERY PROJECT
Silver Oak Winery, which has the status of USA’s most eco-conscious vineyard, has been featured on global design platform Design Boom. Design Boom is an online resource for cultural news within design, architecture, art and technology reaching over 3.5 million viewers a month. The piece details the design approach and the client scope of preserving and enabling the existing natural ecologies to thrive on the working production & hospitality facilities. This vibrant and sustainable ecology continues to evolve 3 years after completion.
MaY 18, 2021
MFLA RECEIVES WORLD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD HONORABLE MENTION WITH SILVER OAK WINERY PROJECT
Silver Oak Winery, a family owned 113-acre site, has received the Honorable Mention for the Built (Large) category in the 2021 World Landscape Architecture Professional Awards. Amongst the 400+ projects that were submitted for this award, we are proud to be highlighted amongst some incredibly impressive international work.
Read more about the project and other winners HERE.
MaY 12, 2021
SILVER OAK WINERY FEATURES IN DEZEEN MAGAZINE TOP 10 DESIGNED-LED WINERIES IN THE USA & CANADA
We are honored to be featured amongst some amazing projects this month with the Silver Oak Winery project in Healdsburg, CA. It’s been fantastic to be able to visit the site regularly and see its evolution with our new studio being so close by.
On the 113-acre site where the Silver Oak vineyards now stand, Zinfandel vines have grown since the 1880s. The new Silver Oak is a small, family-owned winery that is the most environmentally responsive winery in the US.
The challenge for MFLA was how to take an energy hungry monoculture and transform it into a sustainably diverse ecosystem while allowing the vineyard to produce a consistent yield and provide a memorable, educational experience for visitors. The scope included vineyard layout & management, vehicular circulation and parking, events and visitor experience. This meant the design had to be functional and versatile, while delivering a sophisticated yet approachable outdoor space.
MaY 11, 2021
MFLA WELCOMES HEATHER DUNBAR, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, TO THE MFLA STUDIO
Heather has extensive experience in all stages of design; schematic design through construction documentation, community outreach and coordinating complex built projects. With a diverse range of public and private projects spanning new campuses, public parks, embassies and private residences Heather brings a wealth of project management and technical acumen to the MFLA team.
March 15, 2021
SILVER OAK FEATURES IN ARCHITECTURAL RECORD
One of MFLA's projects with Piechota Architecture, Silver Oak Winery, was featured in the February 2021 issue of Architectural Record. The piece focused on the growth of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), which is the gold standard within regenerative design for both built and natural environments. The certification evaluates seven key categories of impact - Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.
MFLA are proud to have been part of this project, the only production facility to achieve Living status so far with a zero net water and zero net energy status.
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
NEW STUDIO IN SONOMA
MFLA are happy to announce a new Studio location in Healdsburg, CA, specifically serving the Sonoma and Napa region. As our agricultural, residential, and hospitality project portfolio expands in this uniquely diverse landscape, a permanent home in the area is important to closely collaborate with our partners. James and Marta, will both continue to work on US and European projects. We look forward to a bright year, full of exciting partnerships with clients and colleagues in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Europe.
OCTOBER 28, 2020
SILVER OAK WINERY RECEIVED AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Organized by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and Metropolitan Arts Press since 1994, The American Architecture Awards are the nation's highest and most prestigious distinguished building awards program that honor new and cutting-edge design in the United States. This year, Silver Oak Winery is amongst the recipients of the Awards from over 400 shortlisted projects. View Award details here.
July 8, 2020
MFLA SWEDEN STUDIO AND FARM FEATURED IN LEADING SWEDISH INTERIORS MAGAZINE
Sköna Hem, a leading Interiors magazine in Sweden, has featured MFLA’s new Studio and Farm in Österlen, Sweden — a confident yet cozy interiors reflecting Scandinavian and American influences, nestled within a garden and an established farm with 170-year history of horticulture. View the article online.
April 22, 2020
SILVER OAK ALEXANDER VALLEY WINERY BECAME LARGEST, CERTIFIED LIVING BUILDING IN THE WORLD
Silver Oak is the first winery to receive certification in all seven performance areas or “petals” (Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, Beauty) of the Living Building Challenge — the world’s most ambitious performance standard for the built environment. It is only the second certified Living Building project in California, an achievement shared by only 25 other buildings globally. Read the press release here.
MARCH 17, 2020
MFLA RESPONSE ON COVID-19
MFLA has transitioned to working remotely in response to recommendations from our local public health officials regarding COVID-19 as of March 14, 2020. Our San Francisco and Österlen studios have been configured to collaborate remotely since the founding of the studio in Sweden, and we will be pushing projects forward with our standard level of artistry and rigor.
As more and more shelter-in-place orders are issued, we know that many of our clients and colleagues will be working remotely as well. Although we are not currently able to conduct in-person meetings, we remain available through video conferencing, phone, and email. We look forward to continuing to work with all of you, be it through typical channels or through new tele-collaboration tools.
APR 26, 2019
SILVER OAK WINERY RECEIVES 2019 ASLA NCC AWARD
The recently completed Silver Oak Winery in Alexander Valley, with master plan and landscape design by MFLA, receives a 2019 ASLA Northern California Merit Award in the General Design category. View our award entry here.
Feb 25, 2019
SILVER OAK ALEXANDER VALLEY WINERY FEATURED ON DEZEEN
Designed to “frame the vineyards,” Silver Oak Winery is celebrated for integrating its architecture and landscape experiences, along with its environmentally friendly practices of material reuse and water management. Read article here.
Feb 5, 2019
MFLA FEATURED ON AUTOCAD CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY
AutoCAD celebrates MFLA’s work on the Pinterest Headquarters at 505 Brannan through an interview and digital images of the design process. Read the feature article here.
Jan 28, 2019
MARTA FRY AND JAMES MUNDEN ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP
MFLA announces a new partnership between Founding Principal Marta Fry and Studio Principal James Munden. Established in 1990 as Marta Fry Landscape Associates, the Studio will now be known as Munden Fry Landscape Associates. The ‘MFLA’ acronym remains consistent, as do the values, high standards, and commitment to design excellence and creative exploration.
“For more than 8 years James has proven his exceptional design talent, managerial expertise, mentoring acumen, and shared vision for the Studio,” says Marta Fry. “This collaboration represents the evolution of the firm and it is an honor to welcome him as a Partner. Together we carry the banner of MFLA into its thirtieth year with even greater expertise and enthusiasm.”
Munden Fry Landscape Associates will continue to focus on four sectors: agriculture and hospitality, private residential, commercial and mixed-use, and planning and civic realm. James will continue to lead the San Francisco Studio and US-based projects while Marta further develops the Scandinavian-European market.
Nov 1, 2018
INVICTA, MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN SAN JOSE WINS AIA SILICON VALLEY PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Standing as a symbol of the innovation and inclusiveness of the tech industry, Invicta, a mixed-use development with landscape designed by MFLA, is set to redefine the public face of San Jose. Read more.
Jul 1, 2018
SILVER OAK WINERY AWARDED LEED PLATINUM SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION
Silver Oak Winery, with landscape designed by MFLA, becomes the first commercial winery in the world to attain the green-building program's highest level of recognition in the category of "new construction." Read more.
July 6, 2018
ANNOUNCING OUR NEW DESIGN GUIDE TO RETAINING WALLS
MFLA are excited to be part of Gardenista’s piece on retaining walls with an impactful corten steel divider which doubles as an outdoor sculpture. Our studio is on of the highlighted landscape architects within the directory at the link below.
Jun 1, 2018
MFLA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION INTO EUROPE
With a range of high-profile projects nearing completion and more coming on-line, MFLA is excited to open a second Studio in Scandinavia, based in the Österlen-Skåne area of southern Sweden. James Munden who has been with MFLA for seven years as Design Director will further expand his role as Studio Principal of the San Francisco office while Marta Fry leads the expansion into Europe. Both Principals will actively work on US and Europe projects.
Entering into one of the world's most renowned design environments, the MFLA Sweden Studio will bring a fresh interpretation and perspective to this significant design environment. Projects will continue to focus on urban design; infill and reinterpretation, hospitality, estate and agricultural masterplanning, and detailed design development.
Bridging Studios / Öresund Bridge. Denmark-Sweden
Apr 1, 2018
'SONOMA SANCTUARY' FEATURED ON MODERN LUXURY INTERIORS MAGAZINE
A wine country private residence situated in front of the dramatic Mount Veeder in Sonoma, California with landscape designed by MFLA. Read article here.
Jan 1, 2018
"11 DESIGNS BUILD ON S.F. ARCHITECTURE"
San Francisco Chronicle Urban Design Critic John King enumerates 11 designs that defined the state of San Francisco architecture in 2017 - including Filbert Cottages and 181 Fremont with landscapes designed by MFLA. Read article here.
