Walter Hood: The African Ancestors Garden

Presented by the Master of Landscape Architecture and Undergraduate Architecture Programs at Pratt Institute

The Master of Landscape Architecture program at Pratt Institute generously provided limited tickets to ASLA-NY members for Walter Hood: The African Ancestors Garden. In this lecture, acclaimed designer Walter J. Hood explored the conception and realization of the African Ancestors Garden at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.

Designed to honor the lives and legacies of the African diaspora, the garden integrates cultural symbolism, native plantings, and evocative spatial forms. Hood discussed how history and memory are embedded within the design, creating a living memorial that invites reflection, healing, and connection. Through layered narratives and immersive environments, the project bridges past and present, inspiring dialogue around identity, heritage, and community.

Following his presentation, Hood engaged in a conversation with Signe Nielsen (MNLA, Pratt) and Matteo Milani (Pei Cobb Freed + Partners), offering further insights into the intersections of landscape, architecture, and public memory.

This event was presented by Pratt Institute’s Master of Landscape Architecture and Undergraduate Architecture programs, with support from ASLA-NY. Tickets were made available free of charge to ASLA members through the association’s website.