Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac Wantland.
Hi Isaac, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau to Ed, an engineer, and Nancy, a stylist raised on generational Tennessee farm. You might say I was born for the artistic, intuitive, yet technical work I endeavor to undertake. With parents who encouraged me to “go outside and not come home until dark,” exploring the forests and glades that surrounded my childhood home was a daily activity.
As soon as I could hold a pencil, I took it with me. I observed and I drew. I drew landscapes. I drew the fauna and flora around me. I drew the structures, habited or abandoned, and often the ones I imagined should be there. I built things, too: models and forts. Being an avid reader and linguaphile, I also created or interpreted stories for all of the above. Fast forward to today, and essentially, I utilize every tool from those toolboxes.
I gained valuable insight in college, building on my innate ability to discern and interpret natural systems. I earned a degree in landscape architecture, graduated magna cum laude, and won several awards along the way. The subsequent 25+ years of professional experience has taken me through site designs, details, and planting plans for resorts, museums, educational, commercial, and institutional campuses, parks and greenways, private residences, working farms, and large estates. Over the years, I have led the stewardship of thousands of acres of land through tens of millions of dollars in site construction.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest bump in the road I had was in 2009. The construction economy had tanked and the company I worked for had to make some bold moves to maintain their operations. I was the eldest associate. My drain on payroll was obvious, so they had to let me go. Though difficult, no doubt, I understood and thanked them for the valuable experience I had under their mentorship. I now refer to this event as being “kicked out of the nest.” It was a trying time, with two small children and being the sole breadwinner of my household. Luckily, soon after, a friend and local architect, Steve Durden, emptied a spare storage room in his office for me and invited me to use his space as a starting point. He even brought me my first project. At the time, People often asked me why I would chose to start a company in the worst possible economy. In reality, I had no choice! However, I often replied with optimism, “It can only go up from here!” I “boot-strapped” for a few months and was able to connect with more architects who valued my services and also recommended me to more clients. It’s been 15+ years since then and Steve and I still have projects together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Wantland Ink Landscape Architecture is a boutique design studio based in Nashville, Tennessee. Practicing throughout the South, the firm provides creative, quality site design, land planning, and construction documentation for discerning clientele. We entertain select civic and institutional commissions, while maintaining a focus on private homes and properties. We strive to apply the timeless principles of proportion and scale, with a refined attention to detail, to realize the proper contextual relationships of land to architecture. We also provide site evaluation, analysis, and selection services. We were one of the first firms in Nashville to create full-site 3D models for projects. Our clients can tour these via a flythrough or step inside using VR technology, like an Oculus.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I have a friend who likes to say, “There’s two things in this world: relationships and junk.” I am at the point in my career where relationships, personally and professionally, matter much more to me than anything else. I wouldn’t be here without Steve, the architect friend that picked me up and supported me, or without the repeat clients we always seem to be working with or without employee Matt Clark (the man on the left in the photo of us), who has been with me for over 10 years. It can be easy to keep pushing and grinding, without slowing down to sit with someone who needs an ear to listen or someone who needs a helping hand. These days, though, I enjoy the journey more than the destination. I also have learned that good ideas can come from anywhere, so I do like to understand each person’s perspective, such as how a mason learned a certain cutting technique that might change the way we detail a column or how a steel bracket might inform how the bolt pattern is expressed in a timber pergola. Also, many of my clients continue to call me well after their projects are finished as we become friends through the process. I like to walk away from every project with not only a powerful design, but lifelong relationships built by creating great work together. Speaking of great work, some ask what kinds of projects I like to be involved with. My answer, “The good ones.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wantlandink.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacwantland/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacwantland/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@WantlandinkLA
