The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Garden
MVVA transformed the center of the Mellon Foundation’s headquarters on New York City’s Upper East Side into a verdant refuge that invites a wide range of uses and users. The design respects the site’s history by preserving mature canopy trees and giving a new coherent identity to the hodgepodge of backyard parcels that the Foundation acquired over time. MVVA reconfigured the space to create a garden that is intimate yet also capable of hosting both daily functions and larger events, from outdoor meetings and coffee breaks to large musical events.
Full Scale Paving Mock-up
Paving Study
The paving layout weaves the site together in a loose hatched pattern. Irregular swaths of multicolor bluestone connect two larger paved areas, while an arcing path of engraved bricks leads to the Foundation buildings facing 61st Street. The stone for the project was sourced from a quarry in the Hudson Valley, strengthening ties to the site’s geological history.
By introducing an understory of smaller trees and shade-adapted groundcover, MVVA’s planting design adds visual and experiential variety to the existing canopy trees while accentuating the madcap mix of plants found on site.
The planting for each part of the garden highlights the character of every species and produces distinct microclimates, critical views from indoors and out, and year-round seasonal interest. Plant layout defines an engrossing foreground, middle ground, and background when viewed from office windows, strengthening the relationship between interior and exterior. Playful and exuberant, the garden feels both born of its site and unconventional in its play on the neighborhood’s fabric.
