Shawn Maestretti
Shawn Maestretti's work at Studio Petrichor resonates deeply with the metaphor of the first rain experience that stirs something intrinsic in humans. The smell of the first rain, defined as "petrichor," evokes a sense of renewal,...
https://www.larchitect.org/ https://hapsagency.com/
Shawn Maestretti's work at Studio Petrichor https://studio-petrichor.com/ resonates deeply with the metaphor of the first rain experience that stirs something intrinsic in humans. The smell of the first rain, defined as "petrichor," evokes a sense of renewal, calm, and connection to nature. This sensory reaction is rooted in our survival instincts; rain signals life, growth, and sustenance. Throughout history, humans have been tied to the land and water. The arrival of rain often meant the end of drought, the rebirth of crops, and the revival of ecosystems. Thus, the first rain isn’t just a sensory pleasure—it’s a symbol of hope and balance, ensuring survival by replenishing resources vital for life.
This same ethos drives Shawn’s work at Studio Petrichor. His approach to landscape architecture, particularly as discussed in the podcast with Jason Wan https://www.hunterindustries.com/, reflects the harmony between human intuition and the natural world. Just as the first rain revives the earth, Shawn’s designs aim to restore balance and sustainability to landscapes. By integrating water-smart technologies like rainwater harvesting and smart irrigation systems, Shawn helps create self-sustaining environments that support native ecosystems while conserving vital resources.
What stands out to me in this podcast episode is its immersive, almost voyeuristic quality, driven by the reliance on the video component available on LAP's YouTube channel. This layered experience invites listeners to engage their imagination, much like reading a book that leaves room for personal interpretation of its visual elements. Whether you choose to dive into the full video or simply listen, the episode offers a rich narrative that allows your mind to fill in the sensory details, making it a versatile and enjoyable experience in either format.
00:00:00:09 - 00:00:01:06
Shawn Maestretti:
Hi, this is Shawn Maestretti with Studio Petrichor.
00:00:01:06 - 00:00:04:18
Jason Wan:
This is Jason from Hunter Industries.
00:00:04:23 - 00:00:33:03
Shawn Maestretti:
All right, we're here in the back garden where it all began. Jason Wan, in early 2019, our client in Canada asked us to reimagine everything about her property. She was passionate about harvesting sunlight for her house, growing her own food, harvesting water, and supporting native habitats. She had worked with a few other designers, but none of them quite hit the mark she was looking for.
00:00:33:05 - 00:00:52:05
Shawn Maestretti:
After meeting with us, she decided to move forward. One of the biggest issues was water draining off the neighbor's property, causing flooding in the front. The challenge was to move that water into the rain gardens and into the ground.
00:00:52:07 - 00:01:16:08
Shawn Maestretti:
What if we harvested the rest of the rainwater off the roofs and stored it in massive cisterns like these? They each hold 2,500 gallons. Then we could use that water to irrigate the landscape. What's really cool is that three months ago she called me asking when she could turn off the water for the native landscapes. I told her, "Any time you want, it's ready."
00:01:16:10 - 00:01:23:19
Jason Wan:
Yeah.
00:01:24:10 - 00:01:39:00
Shawn Maestretti:
It’s so cool to set up a garden with the right irrigation system, one that helps establish the landscape and then can be used only as needed, relying mostly on rainwater.
00:01:39:03 - 00:02:08:17
Jason Wan:
Absolutely. I teach at UCLA, and I always tell my students that an irrigation system is your infrastructure for the planting design. Some people say you don't need irrigation, but as you mentioned, the establishment period is crucial. After that, you can cut it off, and if you need supplemental water later, the infrastructure is there to support it.
00:02:08:20 - 00:02:19:20
Shawn Maestretti:
We always bring you in on projects to optimize our irrigation, and you're great at training our team. They really appreciate having you there, so I don't have to train them all the time.
00:02:19:21 - 00:02:21:16
Jason Wan:
You have a great team.
00:02:21:18 - 00:02:48:19
Shawn Maestretti:
I'd rather be writing and doing promotion. Wouldn't it be great if all our landscapes relied on rainwater? When we decided to harvest water into these systems, we realized there wasn’t enough gravity or the right elevation for the water to flow from the roof into the cisterns. So, we installed a sump system, and you recommended a booster pump to pressurize the system.
00:02:48:19 - 00:02:56:19
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:02:57:15 - 00:03:10:19
Shawn Maestretti:
That was a big-ticket item, but our client wanted to go the distance. Sometimes you get clients like that. Now, the system pressurizes the rotators back here.
00:03:10:19 - 00:03:11:21
Jason Wan:
Yep.
00:03:11:22 - 00:03:17:07
Shawn Maestretti:
If there's one sprinkler I love the most, it’s the MP Rotator because it simulates rain.
00:03:17:09 - 00:03:18:07
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:03:18:09 - 00:03:20:21
Shawn Maestretti:
And native landscapes love rain.
00:03:20:23 - 00:03:46:07
Jason Wan:
I brought one of our MP Rotators here for you to see. It has specific grooves that meticulously throw water exactly where it needs to go. Unlike typical spray nozzles, it throws little streams that simulate rainwater, which is exactly what native plants love.
00:03:46:07 - 00:03:58:07
Shawn Maestretti:
And they’re beautiful to watch when they’re running.
00:04:02:05 - 00:04:03:11
Jason Wan:
They’re gorgeous.
00:04:03:11 - 00:04:24:09
Shawn Maestretti:
I like using 12-inch pop-ups. No matter where they are in the landscape, they rise above any surrounding plants. Plus, you can angle them slightly to simulate rain, which helps with even coverage.
00:04:24:09 - 00:04:33:23
Jason Wan:
And with the Hugelkultur berms you design, MP Rotators irrigate gently, preventing runoff and allowing water to percolate properly into the soil.
00:04:34:05 - 00:05:05:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, I think there are two zones back here, one on each side of the garden. The system basically makes it rain. This winter, with so much rain, every time I checked my Weather Underground app, I saw two or three inches of rain coming. So I’d tell Jodi, “Empty the tanks now because they're going to fill up again.” That way, we get water deep in the ground while also watering native plants when they need it.
00:05:05:01 - 00:05:22:08
Jason Wan:
And speaking of Weather Underground, the controller we used, the Pro-HC, integrates with Hydrawise software, which uses Weather Channel data to predict when to shut off the system during rain.
00:05:22:10 - 00:05:42:22
Shawn Maestretti:
Oh man, I love that app! I use it throughout the day. It tells me exactly how many inches of rain are coming. It’s pretty accurate.
00:05:42:22 - 00:05:43:08
Jason Wan:
Yeah.
00:05:43:10 - 00:05:58:02
Jason Wan:
And the controller is accurate within 1,500 feet, picking up on any weather changes.
00:06:00:16 - 00:06:14:15
Shawn Maestretti:
One of the coolest things about this garden, with the Hugelkultur berms, is the thermal mass of the logs and boulders. Every morning, you’ll find moisture underneath the logs, even just from the moist air. If I were to roll one of these logs, you'd see so much life and fungi underneath. These are water-harvesting devices that hold moisture longer, increase biodiversity, and improve soil health.
00:07:05:14 - 00:07:23:02
Jason Wan:
Yeah, I love the dual purpose—holding moisture while also returning carbon and nutrients to the soil as the logs break down.
00:07:23:02 - 00:07:36:00
Shawn Maestretti:
A simple tip for landscape designers: where there’s carbon in the soil, there’s water. Where there’s water, there’s life. Without soil life, there’s no life.
00:07:36:02 - 00:07:58:08
Jason Wan:
The way you split the zones to account for varying elevations and microclimates is brilliant. With the different zones, you can control how much water is applied to each section.
00:08:12:01 - 00:08:35:23
Shawn Maestretti:
Another fun fact: the client recently received a letter from the fire department. This area is a high fire-risk zone, so they check landscapes to ensure they're not a fire hazard. You’d think a wild native garden like this might not be compliant, but it is. A wild garden focused on carbon in the soil, green healthy growth, and very little water is in compliance. I think that’s amazing.
00:08:35:23 - 00:08:42:07
Jason Wan:
Yeah, and it’s a common misconception that native gardens are all dry and yellow. But look at this—there’s moisture here.
00:08:42:22 - 00:08:58:01
Shawn Maestretti:
It probably hasn’t been watered in about three weeks, and you can still feel the moisture in the air here.
00:09:06:04 - 00:09:14:23
Jason Wan:
Exactly. The soil and moisture are so well maintained in this environment.
00:09:15:05 - 00:09:34:08
Shawn Maestretti:
When we piped the driveway, we repurposed brick for the drainage and irrigation solutions. Working with the right contractors, we handled all those details on site, creating permeable designs using salvaged brick. The results fit perfectly with the cottage style of the home.
00:09:34:10 - 00:09:35:21
Jason Wan:
That’s fantastic.
00:09:36:02 - 00:10:01:18
Jason Wan:
Key elements of a successful project include a knowledgeable landscape architect, a skilled contractor, and post-maintenance support. Everything working together ensures a project’s success.
00:10:05:18 - 00:10:07:11
Shawn Maestretti:
It’s all about relationships.
00:10:07:11 - 00:10:08:05
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:10:08:07 - 00:10:27:19
Shawn Maestretti:
The relationships above ground and below ground. By using the client’s leftover brick, we made permeable designs that also fit the style of the home. And look at her food garden—it’s bursting with growth!
00:10:27:20 - 00:10:42:15
Jason Wan:
I love the Corten steel planters.
00:10:42:17 - 00:10:58:03
Shawn Maestretti:
Yeah, simple and effective. One of my favorite plants here is the Jerusalem artichoke. Have you ever had them?
00:10:58:05 - 00:10:59:06
Jason Wan:
I haven’t, actually.
00:10:59:07 - 00:11:02:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Oh, they’re my favorite fall food.
00:11:02:05 - 00:11:03:22
Jason Wan:
How do you cook them?
00:11:04:00 - 00:11:29:04
Shawn Maestretti:
I make salt and vinegar Jerusalem artichokes. They look like ginger or potatoes, and they’re actually sunflowers! You slice them, boil them with vinegar and salt, then roast them in the oven with butter. They stay crunchy and are high in inulin, which is great for your gut. Though they can make you a little gassy!
00:11:29:08 - 00:11:37:15
Jason Wan:
Sounds delicious and healthy too.
00:11:37:17 - 00:12:01:21
Jason Wan:
I love how nothing left the site, and everything was reused. Earlier, we talked about how the neighbors had to remove some trees, and those were repurposed into the Hugelkultur berms.
00:12:01:21 - 00:12:05:09
Shawn Maestretti:
Exactly. It’s been a collaborative effort all around.
00:12:05:09 - 00:12:06:13
Jason Wan:
Yeah.
00:12:06:15 - 00:12:24:07
Shawn Maestretti:
And I owe it to the client for being brave enough to try something new and unfamiliar, like these massive mounds of logs and soil, or the water harvesting systems. They know in their heart that this is the right thing to do.
00:12:24:09 - 00:12:25:23
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:12:26:01 - 00:12:32:16
Shawn Maestretti:
The status quo might look at this and wonder, but over time, people start to transform when they see the results.
00:12:32:21 - 00:12:33:21
Jason Wan:
Exactly.
00:12:33:22 - 00:12:36:01
Shawn Maestretti:
And so does everyone else.
00:12:36:03 - 00:12:45:16
Jason Wan:
It’s important to have open-minded clients who help push forward this new way of thinking. It’s a paradigm shift.
00:12:45:16 - 00:12:47:06
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, it really is.
00:12:47:08 - 00:13:01:16
Jason Wan:
People are often afraid of change, but with clients like these, we can create more projects that embrace this kind of design.
00:13:01:18 - 00:13:05:17
Shawn Maestretti:
And when you think about it, it's really about simplifying things.
00:13:05:19 - 00:13:07:19
Jason Wan:
Yes, exactly.
00:13:07:21 - 00:13:33:04
Shawn Maestretti:
It's less about extracting resources and more about supporting what’s already here. We don’t need new concrete or fancy metal designs—those are highly extractive. The more we simplify and repurpose materials, the better. We’ve done that successfully on several projects.
00:13:33:04 - 00:13:33:17
Jason Wan:
I’ve seen that, absolutely.
00:13:33:19 - 00:13:35:02
Shawn Maestretti:
It’s all about focusing on the landscape.
00:13:35:03 - 00:13:59:01
Jason Wan:
Repurposed material can still be beautiful.
00:13:59:01 - 00:14:05:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, and it all starts with the soil. If I could ask anything of the profession, it would be to nurture soil in every project and encourage clients to do the same.
00:14:05:03 - 00:14:19:07
Jason Wan:
Sean, you’re a master of that.
00:14:19:09 - 00:14:45:09
Shawn Maestretti:
Another thing I love about our regenerative landscape approach is the abundance that returns to the soil each year. I like to encourage people to harvest cut flowers—leaving most for the pollinators, of course—but also to bring some inside. Many native plants are food or medicine, like coyote mint or wooly blue curls, which make excellent tea.
00:14:45:11 - 00:15:03:20
Shawn Maestretti:
These garden beds are made from hot-rolled steel, which creates a raised planter that increases planting area. As the steel rusts slowly, it feeds the soil. Here we used drip irrigation, as MP Rotators wouldn’t have worked due to blockage from plants.
00:15:03:20 - 00:15:28:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Another fun fact: if you're making homemade pickles, add a grape leaf to the bottom of the jar, and your pickles will come out extra crispy. It works! These two citrus trees were struggling when we started, but by building soil carbon, they’ve grown immensely. We also added a fig tree and some passion fruit. When you sit quietly and watch, you can see all the pollinators—the bees and butterflies—zipping around. This garden is really for them.
00:15:28:01 - 00:16:15:03
Jason Wan:
I love how everything in this garden stayed on site—nothing was wasted. Earlier, we talked about how the neighbors had to remove some trees, and those were repurposed into the Hugelkultur berms. It’s such a collaborative effort all around.
00:16:15:03 - 00:16:22:12
Shawn Maestretti:
I honestly owe it to the client. She’s brave, and so are all our clients who try new, unfamiliar ideas like these. They know in their hearts that this is the right thing to do.
00:16:22:12 - 00:16:25:23
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:16:26:01 - 00:16:32:16
Shawn Maestretti:
The status quo may look at this and not understand it at first, but eventually, they start to transform.
00:16:32:21 - 00:16:33:21
Jason Wan:
Exactly.
00:16:33:22 - 00:16:36:01
Shawn Maestretti:
And so does everyone else.
00:16:36:03 - 00:16:45:16
Jason Wan:
It’s important to have open-minded clients who help push forward this new way of thinking. It’s a paradigm shift.
00:16:45:16 - 00:16:47:06
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, it really is.
00:16:47:08 - 00:13:01:16
Jason Wan:
People are often afraid of change, but with clients like these, we can create more projects that embrace this kind of design.
00:13:01:18 - 00:13:05:17
Shawn Maestretti:
And when you think about it, it's really about simplifying things.
00:13:05:19 - 00:13:07:19
Jason Wan:
Yes, exactly.
00:13:07:21 - 00:13:33:04
Shawn Maestretti:
It's less about extracting resources and more about supporting what’s already here. We don’t need new concrete or fancy metal designs—those are highly extractive. The more we simplify and repurpose materials, the better. We’ve done that successfully on several projects.
00:13:33:04 - 00:13:33:17
Jason Wan:
I’ve seen that, absolutely.
00:13:33:19 - 00:13:35:02
Shawn Maestretti:
It’s all about focusing on the landscape.
00:13:35:03 - 00:13:59:01
Jason Wan:
Repurposed material can still be beautiful.
00:13:59:01 - 00:14:05:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, and it all starts with the soil. If I could ask anything of the profession, it would be to nurture soil in every project and encourage clients to do the same.
00:14:05:03 - 00:14:19:07
Jason Wan:
Sean, you’re a master of that.
00:14:19:09 - 00:14:45:09
Shawn Maestretti:
Another thing I love about our regenerative landscape approach is the abundance that returns to the soil each year. I like to encourage people to harvest cut flowers—leaving most for the pollinators, of course—but also to bring some inside. Many native plants are food or medicine, like coyote mint or wooly blue curls, which make excellent tea.
00:14:45:11 - 00:15:03:20
Shawn Maestretti:
These garden beds are made from hot-rolled steel, which creates a raised planter that increases planting area. As the steel rusts slowly, it feeds the soil. Here we used drip irrigation, as MP Rotators wouldn’t have worked due to blockage from plants.
00:15:03:20 - 00:15:28:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Another fun fact: if you're making homemade pickles, add a grape leaf to the bottom of the jar, and your pickles will come out extra crispy. It works! These two citrus trees were struggling when we started, but by building soil carbon, they’ve grown immensely. We also added a fig tree and some passion fruit. When you sit quietly and watch, you can see all the pollinators—the bees and butterflies—zipping around. This garden is really for them.
00:15:28:01 - 00:16:15:03
Jason Wan:
I love how everything in this garden stayed on site—nothing was wasted. Earlier, we talked about how the neighbors had to remove some trees, and those were repurposed into the Hugelkultur berms. It’s such a collaborative effort all around.
00:16:15:03 - 00:16:22:12
Shawn Maestretti:
I honestly owe it to the client. She’s brave, and so are all our clients who try new, unfamiliar ideas like these. They know in their hearts that this is the right thing to do.
00:16:22:12 - 00:16:25:23
Jason Wan:
Absolutely.
00:16:26:01 - 00:16:32:16
Shawn Maestretti:
The status quo may look at this and not understand it at first, but eventually, they start to transform.
00:16:32:21 - 00:16:33:21
Jason Wan:
Exactly.
00:16:33:22 - 00:16:36:01
Shawn Maestretti:
And so does everyone else.
00:16:36:03 - 00:16:45:16
Jason Wan:
It’s important to have open-minded clients who help push forward this new way of thinking. It’s a paradigm shift.
00:16:45:16 - 00:16:47:06
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, it really is.
00:16:47:08 - 00:17:29:04
Jason Wan:
People are always afraid of change, but it’s clients like these who are willing to push forward that make it possible for more projects to adopt this kind of design.
00:17:29:06 - 00:17:33:00
Shawn Maestretti:
And when you think about it, it really is a simplification.
00:17:33:02 - 00:17:35:08
Jason Wan:
Exactly, less extractive and more supportive.
00:17:35:10 - 00:17:59:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Yes, less need for new concrete or fancy metal designs. All that is highly extractive. The more we can simplify, the more we can repurpose. We’ve done it successfully on several projects, and if the majority of our focus as landscape architects can shift back to the "landscape" part of our title, we can truly make an impact. Too often, the "landscape" part is left behind.
00:17:59:03 - 00:18:16:08
Jason Wan:
Yes, and repurposed materials can still be beautiful. It’s about being thoughtful in design.
00:18:16:10 - 00:18:28:20
Shawn Maestretti:
It all starts with the soil. If there’s one thing I could ask of the profession, it’s to start nurturing the soil in every project. Encourage clients to do the same—nurture the soil, and everything else will follow.
00:18:28:22 - 00:18:30:18
Jason Wan:
You’re the master of that, Shawn.
00:18:30:20 - 00:19:03:04
Shawn Maestretti:
One of my favorite things about our regenerative approach is the abundance that returns to the soil each year. I like to encourage people to superimpose their landscape as a potential extension of their home. For example, when you’re harvesting cut flowers, leave most for the pollinators, but bring some inside. Many native plants are food or medicine too, like coyote mint or wooly blue curls, both of which make excellent tea.
00:19:03:06 - 00:19:16:02
Shawn Maestretti:
These raised garden beds, made from hot-rolled steel, increase the square footage of planting area and, as they rust over time, they feed the soil. We also used drip irrigation here because MP Rotators wouldn’t have been appropriate in this area.
00:19:16:04 - 00:19:37:01
Shawn Maestretti:
Here’s a fun fact for those who like making homemade pickles: if you add a grape leaf to the bottom of the jar, your pickles will come out extra crispy. These two citrus trees were struggling when we started, but after focusing on building soil carbon, they’ve grown significantly. We also added a fig tree and passion fruit on the other side of the fence.
00:19:37:03 - 00:19:58:07
Shawn Maestretti:
If you sit still long enough in this garden, you can see the movement of pollinators—bees, butterflies, everything. This garden really is for them.
