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| Position | Assistant Professor |
|---|---|
| Phone | 805.756.2639 |
| Fax | 805.756.2270 |
| cohara@calpoly.edu | |
| Office | 34-214 |
| Office Hours Spring 2012 |
Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon - 1 pm; Wednesdays, 11 am - noon and 1 pm - 2 pm. |
| Web Site |
Areas of Expertise
Cultural Landscapes
Landscape History and Historic Preservation
Theory of Landscape Architecture
California Regionalism
Contemporary Design Practice
Faculty Biography
Christy Edstrom O’Hara received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in English and Art History and Master's from the University of Washington in Landscape Architecture and Preservation Planning. In 2002, she received the Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History, studying the regional design of Palos Verdes Estates and Balboa Park. Prof. O’Hara has lectured both nationally and internationally on landscape preservation as well as its application to sustainable landscape design and construction. Her current research focuses on the California work of the Olmsted firm, especially the Olmsted brothers, and their approach to regionalism.
In addition to teaching, Christy practices landscape architecture and historic landscape restoration. She is a principal of m + o landscape architecture which concentrates on contemporary design in sustainable and green infrastructure solutions. This practice also includes the specialty niche of consulting on the restoration and preservation of historic landscapes by writing National Register Nominations and Cultural Landscape Reports, as well as restoration and rehabilitation plans for such projects as Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach, CA), Mountain View Cemetery (Piedmont, CA), Malaga Cove Park (Palos Verdes Estates, CA), Righetti House (San Luis Obispo), and Hollywood Bungalow Courtyards (North Hollywood, CA). She is on the advisory board for the restoration of the Dana Adobe in Nipomo, CA. Prof. O’Hara views history and contemporary design as companion ideas where history provides the framework for understanding the direction of the field of landscape architecture.
Prof. O’Hara teaches courses on Landscape Interpretation, Cultural Landscape Design, Historic Preservation of Landscapes, Design Fundamentals and Contemporary Design Practice.