PortfolioPhoneTel: 310-367-6817

Landscapes Designs by Perla Arquieta

Perla Arquieta ASLA

WebWeb: www.parquieta.comEmail: parquieta@verizon.net

About me

Personal information

I graduated from the UCLA Extension Landscape Architectural Program in 1998 and received my license in Landscape Architecture in 2002. Currently, I am working toward a Masters in Green Building from the San Francisco’s Institute of Architecture.

In 1994, I began working in the field of Landscape Architecture with Galper/Baldon Associates. While at Galper/Baldon, a large portion of my work was creating conceptual designs for the Los Angeles Unified School District increasing permeable surfaces and greening the school landscapes. Galper/Baldon authored “Steps and Stairways” Rizzoli International, New York 1989, and “Reflections on a Pool” Rizzoli International, New York 1997 and had numerous projects published in Sunset, and Los Angeles Times Magazine.. From 1999 to 2005, I worked with Laura Saltzman Associates, and Artecho Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Their projects ranged from commercial, industrial and residential from small lots to 40 acres. While at these firms, I took the opportunity to develop a good understanding of California native plant material, construction technology and emerging graphic technologies. Both firms have published projects in Sunset, Los Angeles, House and Garden and Garden Design magazines. From 2005 to 2007, I performed as the Landscape Studio Project Manager at KAA Design Group. My greatest contribution to this firm was my conviction and passion related to the sustainability and health of our landscapes and open space. I took the opportunity to mentor junior staff and learn from senior staff. KAA is a medium sized multidisciplinary firm, which practices architecture, landscape architecture, interior and graphic design. The firms work has been extensively published in professional and shelter publications including, Architectural Record, Interior Design, Los Angeles Magazine, The Robb Report, Western Interiors, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. 2007, I received an ASLA Design Honour Award for my contributed in the design of a residential project “Luna Bay”.

Currently, I am working for the County of Los Angeles Department of the Parks and Recreation, I the Planning and Development Division. This division is responsible for the Architectural and Landscape Architectural design and development of Park Projects. I was the lead designer in the first County owned dog park “Cresenta Valley Dog Park”, the “Willowbrook Walking Path” and Peck Road Water Conservation Park Vision Plan”.

I am a member of the America Society of Landscape Architecture and am dedicated toward “enriching the human spirit through sustainable design”.

FULL NAME Perla Arquieta ASLA

ADDRESS 205 Ruth Ave

Venice CA 90291

WEBSITE www.parquieta.com

EMAIL parquieta@verizon.net

PHONE 310-367-6817

Skills and knowledge• Licensed Landscape Architect 4701 Since 2002 • 2009 Lead in writing The County of Los Angeles Park Design

Guidelines approved by County Counsel in 2011

Experienced in • Residential, Commercial, Institutional and Public Park Design • California Natives and Drought Tolerant Plant Materials, and

Irrigation Design• Environmentally sensitive areas of: Northern and Southern

California Coastal Areas, Mulholland View Corridor, and the Santa Monica Mountains

• Grading and Drainage and Low Impact Development • Working with government agencies

AutoCAD / Power Cad / PhotoShop / Illustrator / InDesign / Sketchup / GIS / Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Project. / Windows Operating System, Macintosh Operating System

Visit my web site

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Public ProjectsProject InformationClient: County of Los Angeles

Project Name: The Willowbrook Walking Path

Project Details: Design Features

The Willowbrook Walking Path was designed to encourage the community to exercise, the path includes an exercise zone with exercise equipment, a trail head with benches a drink-ing fountain, and a path that runs next to Compton Creek and loops around the block.

A rip-rap bio-swale was install on the property line adjacent to walking path along the creek. Above ground the swale is planted with riparian native trees, grasses and lined with rip-rap stone. The rip-rap stone was designed to slow and treat stormwater run-off, prevent erosion and stabilize the slope. The stones are not mortared allowing water to percolate and evaporate. Below the surface we placed manufactured water retention bundles. The water’s flow is directed down the slope over the rip-rap and into the swale, then down into the reten-tion bundles. This design maximizes the percolation, which helps trap pollutants and silt, helps in recharging the ground-water and prevents polluted run-off from entering the creek.

The Willowbrook Walking Path bio-swale is designed to;

• Filter pollutants by removing heavy metals, suspended solids, oil and grease

• Temporarily store runoff water until it infiltrates into the soil, reducing runoff volumes and rates

• Recharge groundwater and sustain stream base flows

• Reduce thermal pollution. As stormwater washes across impervious surfaces, e.g. hot parking lots in summer. This heated stormwater flows into streams and can then impact fish and other wildlife that depend on cold water streams to live and breed.

California Sycamore Tree

The California Sycamore (Platanus Rasemosa) is the tree that was selected for the Willowbrook community walking path adjacent to the rip-rap bio-swale. This tree is native to California and grows along streams and rivers. This majestic tree will reach a height of 40 - 75 feet in height and a spread of 40’ - 70’ at full maturity.

The Sycamore’s large branches reach out and up toward the sun giving it a beautiful sculptural form. Its large, deeply lobed, hand shaped, green leaves change color during the fall turning from green to gold and by winter will drop off. The handsome exfoliating bark on the trunk peels off to reveal mottled colors of white, tan, and brown.

Thoughout history Sycamores have been greatly valued for their wood for making everything from musical instru-ments to cutting boards, the tree also provides nesting sites for birds and food for the larva of the Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

Besides providing shade, within their life time these trees will remove nearly half of their weight in carbon dioxide (CO2)

Deer Grass

The grass planted below the California Sycamore is called Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) a riparian grass also native to much of California. It is perfect for Compton Creek because it grows naturally on the banks of sea-sonal creeks.

The leaves on this beautiful grass will reach 3’ in height with 2’ plumes (flowers) rising above the plant, while its leaves range in color from light silver-green to purple. California natives commonly used this grass for weaving baskets.

In naturalized areas Mule Deer graze on this grass during fawning season. The deergrass seed provides food for many different bird species and during the winter it hosts many species of moths, butterflies and ladybugs.

Deergrass’s dense stands and extensive roots also act as a biofilter effective for the removal and breakdown of herbicides, pesticides and particulates found in stormwa-ter run-off.

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Kiosk and Educational Signage

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Public Projects Project InformationClient: County of Los Angeles

Project Name: Crescenta Valley Dog Park

Project Details: Design Features

The off-leash dog park is approximately an acre and a half. One third is dedicated to small dogs, while two thirds provide plenty of running space for large dogs. Six-foot chain-link fences protected the off-leach ar-eas, and both entrances are secure by double gates. These gates are designed to minimize unleashed dog escapes from the park as visitors enter and exist. The entrance locations are far from the activity center of the park where most dogs play, this helps to prevent dogs from gathering at the gate, where dog may be-come territorial.

The entrances are paved with concrete, with a path that leads to shaded ADA accessible benches. These benches are strategically located, once there the dog owner can throw a ball or Frisbee without having to move to another area.

Permeable decomposed granite paving covers large portions of the open areas for dogs and owners that prefer an even smooth surface to play, this material is permeable, does not absorb water, is easy to clean and requires no water except for a daily wash down. Cedar chips cover the other areas, cedar is non-toxic and repels fleas and flies, and the use of this “built-in” pest control prevents the establishment of flea popula-tion providing a clean and comfortable environment for both dog and owner.

Groups of benches placed beneath the canopies of the existing mature Oaks and Sycamores provide plenty of shade for the visitor. While large spaces are kept unobstructed for balls and Frisbee play.

A dog wash is available for quick clean-ups and community boards are provided outside of the gated entrances. Drinking fountains for dogs and their owner are located inside each gate for both small and large dog areas.

Low water climate appropriate plant material sur-rounds the exterior.

An underground drainage system helps in remov-ing the surface stormwater rapidly, at the same time underground water retention devices hold the storm-water until it permeates into the ground resulting in 0% run-off.

Solar powered security lighting and irrigation make this site not only the county’s first dog park but also a sustainably designed dog park.

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Public ProjectsProject InformationClient: County of Los Angeles

Project Name: Peck Road Water Conservation Park Vision Plan

Project Details: Design Features

Peck Road Water Conservation Park

Peck Water Conservation Park, located at 5401 Peck Road Arcadia, CA 91006, is a unique 200 acre quarry now serv-ing as a water management & recreation facility. The area consists of two lakes in a figure 8 shape. These lakes are a rich habitat for various birds; the Western Gull, Green Heron, Cooper’s Hawks, Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds, Black Phoebes, Band-tailed Pigeons, and Palm Warbler have all been found here. The Rio Hondo bicycle path begins at the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, about 1/2 mile South of Live Oak Avenue and parallels the Rio Hondo through Los Angeles County. Currently the park amenities include picnic areas, informal open play areas, fishing, walking and bird watching.

The Peck Park Vision Plan proposes to restore and enhance 12.5 acres within the Water Conservation Park. This will include recreation and educational opportunities, sustain-able development, habitat restoration, enhanced paved area, interpretive signage and additional amenities. In addition, improved pedestrian and vehicular circulation, meaningful gathering spaces and the opportunity to commune with nature are proposed. This project helps illustrate the new aesthetics of landscape today, defined by a continuously evolving proc-ess of design. This project accepts embraces and protects the unplanned natural environment and will, when complete, become a valuable and remarkable park site for the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. Objectives: The objective of the park design concept is to create a number of connections.

We propose to connect Peck Park:

1. To the community through the addition of a variety of rec-reational activities and educational opportunities.

2. To nature through sustainable development and restoring the habitat with indigenous plant material.

3. To the history of the site by honoring Tongva people through features and interpretive signage.

4. To the network of urban parks linked by trails along the Emerald Necklace through using similar design elements.

Site Improvements and amenities are:

Entry – The new park entry will provide enhanced park identifi-cation from Peck Road and provide a gateway giving the park a strong sense and of arrival. Site improvements and amenities for this area will include:

• New entry vehicular road

• New entry tree allee with shrubs and groundcover

• New irrigation

• New entry pedestrian path

• Enhanced paving at park entry and at parking lot entry

• New entry monument sign

• New ornamental tubular steel vehicular and pedestrian entry fence and gate

Native Garden – The new native garden serves the community by providing examples of drought-tolerant and native plant material. This garden demonstrates the possibility of a harmonious rela-tionship between an urban setting and nature through thoughtful sustainable design. Site improvements and amenities for this area will include:

• Native garden

• New irrigation

• Picnic tables and benches

• Mulch groundcover

Plaza – The heart and focal point of the park is the new plaza. At the center of the space is a peaceful gathering area with built-in seating shaded by a large specimen oak tree. The site improve-ments and amenities for this area will include:

• Enhanced paving matching paving at park entry

• Turf groundcover

• New irrigation

• New ADA compliant drinking fountain

• Existing restroom upgrade

• Built in raised bench

• Specimen oak tree

Meadow – Peck Water Conservation Park is a unique property with a very natural feel located in an urban setting. The develop-ment of the native annual grassland area will enhance the natural feel of the park and create a unique educational setting for the history of Native American inhabitants along the San Gabriel River. Site improvements and amenities for this area will include:

• Restored habitat of native annual grasses / Temporary Irrigation

• Group picnic areas – includes picnic table and benches, on D.G. paving.

• Educational discovery nodes –boulders with engraved symbols and fossils.

• Interpretive signage.

Viewing Berm – With a simple addition of an accessible pedes-trian path the existing topography offers a great opportunity to watch the collection of wildlife that has made the shores of Peck Park their home. The adjacent development of the native annual grassland flows into this area continuing the natural feel of the park Site improvements and amenities for this area will include:

• A decomposed granite path and pad.

• Additional California Native Trees

• Restore Native Annual Grasses

• Educational Discovery Nodes – boulder with engraved Tongva petroglyph and fossils.

• Interpretive Signage

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Project InformationClient: County of Los Angeles

Project Name: Peck Road Water Conservation Park Parking Lot

Project Details: Design Features

Peck Road Water Conservation Park

Peck Road Water Conservation Park is part of a string of green parks touching the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers, these parks are envisioned as Los Angeles County’s “Emerald Necklace.” A rich habitat of various birds; such as the Western Gull, Green Heron, Cooper’s Hawks, Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds, Black Phoebes, Band-tailed Pigeons, and Palm Warbler are all found here.

The Peck Road Water Conservation Park Parking Lot Project proposes to support the health of the neighboring waterways, and natural habitat.

Parking lot runoff is a major contributor to non-point source pollution. The proposed parking lot’s design incorporates a variety of environmentally preferable features that greatly mitigate many of the negative impacts of traditional parking lots. The proposed design will decrease the impervious surface area, protect the water quality, and provide shading to reduce the “heat island”, reduce stormwater runoff and increase the aesthetic value.

The scope of work includes:

• On-site stormwater retention and Low Impact Development (LID) innovative techniques

• Permeable pavers

• Native and climate appropriate trees and shrubs

• Low volume solar powered irrigations system

• Educational Interpretive signage

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Private Projects

Manhatten Beach

Single family residential remodel includes: • new decomposed granite court-

yard • climate appropriate plant mate-

rial, • a new sitting area with a fire-

bowl

After the removal of the front and back yard lawn and the new land-scape this client has reduced their water bill by 70%.

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Private Projects

Manhatten Beach

Single family residential remodel includes

• new pergola, • barbecue, • spa, • deck, • fire table • garden.

There are countless ways to remake outdoor spaces into outdoor rooms that enhance the enjoyment of the yard. Adding a fire table, spa and arbor; this family now makes better use of their outdoor space. This outdoor room can serve multiple purpos-es; from accommodating the occasional party to daily cooking and relaxing.

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Private Projects

Brentwood

Single family residential remodel includes

• arbors, • pool, • deck • garden• This garden is a beauty.

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Private Projects

Encino

Single family residential remodel includes • new arbors, • barbecue, • pool, • deck • garden.• Adding a pool and a barbecue this family now can really enjoy their outdoor space.