Company Spotlight: Refugia Design, Narberth, PA
Jeff Lorenz, Interview with David Rouse on October 11, 2024
Commercial storefront landscape redesign by Refugia, Wayne, PA
RE·FU·GI·A 1950S: FROM LATIN, LITERALLY ‘PLACE OF REFUGE.’
A GEOGRAPHICAL REGION THAT FORMS A HAVEN FOR RELICT FLORA AND FAUNA
Jeff Lorenz has a vision for the American landscape. Jeff established Refugia, a design-build firm based in Narberth, PA (a borough outside Philadelphia), to transform the relationship between built environments and the natural world – one property at a time. Operating with the tagline “Functional Design for the American Landscape,” Refugia’s work has won numerous awards and has been featured in publications such as Landscape Architecture Magazine, Martha Stewart Gardening, and Architectural Digest. UER Board member David Rouse (who lives in Narberth) recently spoke with Jeff to learn more about Refugia and its approach to creating ecologically beneficial, beautiful, and resilient landscapes.
Editorial note: The following has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
David: What inspired you to start Refugia?
Jeff: Growing up in Newtown Square (PA), I always had a strong interest in nature and the outdoors. I went to Temple to study horticulture but became disillusioned with the so-called “green” industry and the ecological damage it causes. I’ve worked in landscaping since the 1980’s and from the beginning was interested in a more environmental approach. Refugia began in 2015 as a self-taught endeavor, using design to bring natural systems back in our projects. We grew from two people in the beginning to a staff of about 25 today. Our approach is about more than just planting native species; it’s about using what’s on the site to create immersive spaces that work for both people and nature. I have a background in music and sound design, which has a strong influence on Refugia’s work. Making outdoor environments is like theater – it involves telling stories, really creating a whole new world.
David: What geographic area do you serve? Who are your clients?
Jeff: Most of our projects have been in southeast Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey (the Philadelphia metropolitan area). As people hear about Refugia through press coverage and word of mouth, we are getting work in places like Connecticut, Washington (DC), and Tennessee. Our clients are primarily homeowners, as well as commercial and institutional property owners. We are also being called on by homeowner associations that are looking to manage stormwater, reduce lawn area and maintenance levels, and generally bring back nature and the benefits it provides.
David: One of the things that strikes me about Refugia’s work as I’ve observed it in my neighborhood is how it can have a significant impact through relatively modest design interventions. For example, you installed a native perennial bed along the sidewalk in front of a neighbor’s house, which transformed the look and feel of the entire property. Could you share some additional examples of your projects?
Rain garden with native plantings. The stone walkway is visible in the upper left corner (photo by David Rouse)
Jeff: Many residential properties in our area have stormwater issues, which we address by observing how water flows and designing nature-based solutions to manage it. For example, one property had a drainage problem in its back yard. To solve this, we created a linear rain garden (like a swale) with native plantings, which extends around the house to the front yard. We also installed a diagonal stone walkway that runs from the front door to the street, where it meets the rain garden. (Editorial note: the interplay between natural rain garden and constructed walkway creates a “rhythm” in the landscape, evoking Jeff’s musical background.)
A recent project that we’re proud of is a simple stormwater planting at the Media-Upper Providence Library in Delaware County. This project transformed an uninspiring entrance and lawn area into an exploratory pathway and boardwalk that is especially fun for kids. It went beyond the functional goal of managing stormwater to create an interactive rain garden with educational signage that engages people of all ages with nature.
Entrance planting/rain garden at Media-Providence Free Library (photo by Kayla Fell)
David: How do you ensure the long-term sustainability of your projects?
Jeff: Ecologically focused design asks us to balance beauty with function through low input, high impact landscapes. Thoughtfully designed, sustainable landscapes (that reduce lawn and manage stormwater, for example) rely on equally thoughtful maintenance or what we call ‘stewardship’. Our cues of care are very different from a traditional landscaping company that is focused on evidence of the ‘mow and blow’ crew having visited. We steward with a lighter touch, for example preserving winter habitat and forage by delaying cutbacks until spring. That being said, it remains important to homeowners that their landscape looks and feels intentional all year round. Our stewardship team cares for newly installed landscapes throughout their first year and their observations and feedback are integral to the evolution of our designs. Over time, resilient and productive landscapes require less and less input but informed care post-install is essential for long-term, sustainable success.
David: The Refugia website features an Ecological Greenway Network, which it describes as “a system of stepping stones within larger ecological corridors, amplifying the overall effect a single property can have.” Can you talk more about this initiative and what you hope to achieve through it?
Jeff: The idea was to connect the small-scale landscape designs we were doing through a regional network that speaks to our mission to build connectivity and biodiversity in neighborhoods. Within five miles of where you and I live in Narberth, there are now more than 100 functional and productive habitats offering a patchwork of refuge for plants, insects, and wildlife. Anyone can view this network on our website and search within zip codes to find specific properties. This empowers homeowners who may feel that their garden is ‘too small’ to have an impact on big issues like climate change. In fact, size matters less than connectivity! From the beginning, all our Greenway habitats displayed signage that explains the ecological services the garden is providing. These signs have been really effective in building awareness, starting conversations between neighbors, and broadcasting our collective goal.
David: What excites you about your work? How do you see Refugia evolving moving forward?
Jeff: To put it simply, we’re excited about creating a new normal – a new paradigm in all our landscapes. I see so many opportunities to incorporate the kind of work that we do into small spaces, underappreciated spaces like the Media library entrance, and doing so in ways that don’t cost a lot of money. Moving forward, I would like to see Refugia designing immersive, experiential spaces in visible locations, spaces that connect people to nature and are cool to hang out in. But even more than the projects that Refugia designs, I get excited when I see others in our area replacing lawns with native habitat – because it means the movement is spreading.
