People, Place, & Prayer

Supporting faith-based organizations and places for spiritual reflection

About

Making space for prayer, meditation, and reflection goes beyond the walls of churches and wellness centers. Intentionally-designed outdoor sites can be powerful places for transformative healing and spiritual growth. Havens in times of turmoil or joy, thoughtfully-designed places in nature can enrich one’s contemplative journey.

As a designer who cares about connecting people with rich, place-based experiences, I work from the heart, rooted in faith. I spend time with members of an organization or faith community to understand the form of spiritual reflection to be promoted on site, and together we explore the space and its energy to guide design.

What I did

Working with leaders of the Wolf Run Trail Association, we visited and explored ancient and in situ labyrinth layouts for inspiration before determing a configuration that would work best within the native prairie of the Wolf Run Conservancy and meet their dream for nature meditation. In my studio, I sketched and sized a simple labyrinth fitting the site, to be mowed into the prairie and easily maintained throughout the growing season. Together we planned a volunteer work day in spring 2024. With rope, paint, a mower, and about 12 volunteers we transferred the design to the ground, mowed it in, and watched it take form through the summer. It is aptly named the Prayrie Labyrinth.

At The Grove Regional Community Center, Silvernail is supporting New Heights Lutheran Church, alongside MaraLee Olson Designs, and Olson Toon Landscaping, Inc., to transform a 6.5 acre former elementary school site into a welcoming and renewing place for families and community. Silvernail is leading the overall site design implementation, adding green infrastructure features, and designing an events / gathering courtyard.