Corporate/Retail
Willow Festival
Northbrook, Illinois
Willow Festival in Northbrook is a large retail center which was developed from a landscape architectural standpoint in 2005. Landscape installation occurred in the fall of 2007 and has provided unique exterior shopping experiences for guests to enjoy.
Retail anchors Whole Foods and Lowes combine with a series of restaurants such as Potbelly’s and Starbucks, a CVS pharmacy, and the sporting goods store REI. The landscaped perimeter includes wildflower seed mixes which provide a native buffer and transition between perimeter roadways and site where storm water management ponds are located. The client desired that a native planting palette extend into the site and create a very lush landscape environment that people could enjoy and interact with between parking lot and door – unlike many retail centers in the area.
One of the most unique features of the site includes the Koi Pond and bridge located on the exterior dining patio of Potbelly’s Restaurant. Here, many people can sit and relax to the sound of cascading water as they enjoy their lunch or dinner. Mariani Landscape worked with both the client and retail/restaurant owners to provide unique exterior environments that were cohesive with the rest of the site.
