ABOUT US

_ORBIS IS...

... A MEDITATION ON THE EPHEMERAL NATURE OF LANDSCAPE PORTRAYED THROUGH SEASONAL CHANGE AND CONTINUOUS GROWTH.

... AN INTENTION TO ESTABLISH SENSE OF PLACE THROUGH A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF PAST LANDSCAPES. NOT TO REPLICATE HISTORIC PRECEDENTS, BUT TO HONOR AND SUPPORT A PLACE BY ENCOURAGING SPONTANEOUS MOMENTS OF CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD WITHIN COMMONPLACE HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

... A CELEBRATION OF THE MUNDANE THROUGH THE ACTIVATION OF LEFTOVER SPACES AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

... A BOUTIQUE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP PRACTICING IN SOURTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.

... THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF NATHAN LAHY & AIRIEL BARRIENTOS.

_SASSAFRAS ALBIDUM

_TEAM

NATHAN LAHY, PLA

DESIGN PRINCIPAL
FOUNDING PARTNER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

NATHAN IS AN AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WITH OVER 16 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. NATHAN BELIEVES THAT WELL DESIGNED SPACES SHOULD BE HIGH-PERFORMING LANDSCAPES THAT CELEBRATE THE MUNDANE AND ENHANCE COMMONPLACE ACTIVITIES. HE CREATES UNIQUE PACES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT AND ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER AMONGST DIVERSE LOCAL PLANT COMMUNITIES. HIS WORK HAS LED TO COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LOCAL NON-PROFITS.

NATHAN@ORBIS-LA.COM

AIRIEL BARRIENTOS

PRINCIPAL-IN-CHARGE
FOUNDING PARTNER & BUSINESS MANAGER

AIRIEL IS A GRADUATE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WITH MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. AIRIEL’S NATIVE LAND IS PANAMA, WHERE SHE SPENT CHILDHOOD SUMMERS CONNECTING WITH HER FAMILY CULTURE AND INDIGENOUS TROPICAL LANDSCAPES. THESE AND HER MANY OTHER WORLD TRAVELS HAVE INSPIRED HER TO STRIVE TO CREATE UNIQUE & INCLUSIVE SPACES WITH EXPERIENTIAL PLANTING DESIGNS. IN ADDITION TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, AIRIEL HAS EXPERIENCE IN PUBLISHING, PRINT-MAKING, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PLANT PROPAGATION.

AIRIEL@ORBIS-LA.COM

_ARTICLES & MEDIA
2017 ‘LEAVE THE TREES’
2018 THREE SHIPS COFFEE ROASTERS
2021 EPISODE 47: ‘THERE’S A SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING’ ON THE BE YOU PODCAST
_AWARDS
2018 ASLA COMMUNITY SERVICE MERIT AWARD - THREE SHIPS COFFEE ROASTERS
2021 ANNUAL VIRGINIA GREEN TRAVEL STAR AWARD: INNOVATIVE GREEN PROJECT - CROC’S 19TH ST BISTRO
2021 VA ASLA MERIT AWARD IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE CATEGORY FOR VIBE BUTTERFLY GARDEN
_PRESENTATIONS
NATIONAL ASLA CONFERENCE. NASHVILLE, TN 2021: RAISING THE BAR ON CREATIVE PLACEMAKING; A VIBRANT TRANSFORMATION IN VIRGINIA BEACH
_SERVICE
CITY OF PORTMOUTH DOWNTOWN DESIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR 2023-PRESENT: NATHAN LAHY
VIRGINIA CHAPTER ASLA PAST PRESIDENT 2023-2024: NATHAN LAHY
CITY OF NORFOLK ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD MEMBER 2022 - PRESENT: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
CITY OF NORFOLK DT100 COMMITTEE MEMBER 2023-PRESENT: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
CITY OF NORFOLK DT100 EVENT COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR 2022-2023: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
CITY OF PORTSMOUTH DOWNTOWN DESIGN COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR 2019-2023: NATHAN LAHY
ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL DEI CO VICE CHAIR 2023-PRESENT: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL DEI COMMITTEE MEMBER 2022-2023: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
VIRGINIA CHAPER ASLA PRESIDENT 2022-2023: NATHAN LAHY
VIRGINIA CHAPTER ASLA PRESIDENT ELECT 2021-2022: NATHAN LAHY
VIRGINIA CHAPTER ASLA MEMBER AT LARGE 2021-2024: AIRIEL BARRIENTOS
VIRGINIA ASLA HAMPTON ROADS SECTIO CHAIR 2021: NATHAN LAHY
YOUNG ARCHITECT’S FORUM (YAF) AIA HAMPTON ROADS 2019-2022:AIRIEL BARRIENTOS