How TERREMOTO’s Omni-Positive Gardens Are Rewriting the Rules of Ecological Design

New York, United States, Source:

Landscape architecture is undergoing a profound transformation. The firm TERREMOTO has been named a winner of the 2025 National Design Awards by Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. This recognition highlights their pioneering manifesto on radical gardening. They are creating omni-positive gardens that go far beyond visual appeal. These spaces are designed to be deeply empathetic and ecologically restorative. They support all living things at every scale rather than serving merely as aesthetic backdrops for human leisure.

Founded in 2012 with offices in Los Angeles and Berkeley California TERREMOTO approaches landscape design as an investigation into ideas and culture. Their portfolio spans diverse scales and typologies from residential gardens to public spaces. The firm challenges historical and contemporary construction methods. They believe that gardens can respond to the needs of all inhabitants both human and non-human. This philosophy gives rise to novel forms of beauty through expansiveness and inclusivity. It moves beyond traditional landscaping which often prioritizes visual order over ecological function. Instead it embraces process-based stewardship and closed-loop systems.

The core of this new design ethos is articulated through a conversation between TERREMOTO principals Kasey Toomey and Story Wiggins moderated by Billy Fleming. An interdisciplinary scholar of climate justice and design Fleming provides critical context. Together they explore how values are translated into tangible landscapes that care for both human and non-human communities. Toomey holds a BSLA from Cornell University and an MFA in Sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania. He focuses on hyperlocal plants and materials. He values resourcefulness over refinement advocating for non-human-centric design solutions. His work emphasizes understanding where materials come from and determining exactly how much or how little is needed to make a place meaningful.

Story Wiggins brings a background in land stewardship and historic preservation to her role. She holds an MLA from UC Berkeley and a BA in Historic Preservation. She leads projects across various sectors including agricultural and institutional sites. Her intuitive approach aims to honor the land through restraint and allows for evolution through ongoing stewardship. Notably Wiggins has explored design illegibility in the cultural landscape of the Sea Ranch. She also collaborated with Ohlone leaders at the mak-warép Land Conservancy to ensure bioregional and cultural specificity. She leads TERREMOTO’s internal Land and Labor working group which advocates for the tradespeople who make design tangible.

Moderating this dialogue is Billy Fleming assistant professor at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture. He is also the founding codirector of the Climate and Community Institute. A former urban policy advisor to the Obama administration his expertise in climate justice is invaluable. His recent publications including Building Postcarbon Futures underscore the urgency of integrating political economy with landscape design. The discussion highlights how gardens can serve as powerful tools for imagining a radical future built and tended with love. This offers a blueprint for adaptation in an era of climate uncertainty. By uniting design economics and policy TERREMOTO’s award-winning approach offers a replicable model for sustainable urban development worldwide.