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Tanya Kelley is a designer with more than thirty years of experience, including projects that have been recognized for design excellence from professional organizations and civic agencies. Her projects and articles have been featured in professional, local, and national publications.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the City College of the City of New York and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from The Rhode Island School of Design.

She served as a member and Secretary of the Newport Planning Board for nine years developing the Natural and cultural sections of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and was a member of the Washington Square Advisory Commission producing the Washington Square Cultural Landscape Report. Tanya appointed by then Gov. Gina Raimondo as a Commissioner for the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission where she served on the State Preservation and Heritage Review Board, and the Scenic Highways Commission developing standards for roadway tree preservation.

Tanya is the founder and Principal of PLACEstudio, llc Landscape Design in Newport, RI. Her practice includes residential and estate design and management, and not-for-profit design work. Recent projects include estates in Newport and Middletown, RI, The Island Cemetery Landscape Master Plan, and Spring Park, a collaboration with Lirio Landscape Architecture, Kite Architects and Horsley Whitten Engineers, with construction by Marzilli Landscape Construction.

Previous collaborations with Lirio Landscape Architecture include planning and design projects in the United States and China - including the award-winning Master Plan for XiHaizi Model Ecological Park in Beijing, Anthracite Garden in Cambridge MA, Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan, Pawtucket, RI, City Walk and the Elmwood Avenue Enhancement Reports in Providence, RI as well as the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA.

In 2018 Tanya was awarded a research fellowship at the Preservation Society of Newport to study contemporary sculpture on the grounds of historic houses. The fellowship culminated in a lecture and article entitled ‘The Intersection of Past & Present: Contemporary Sculpture in Historic Places’.

Tanya has lectured on a variety of topics at local and regional universities and organizations. Lectures include 'Strategies for a Diverse and Vibrant Newport Harbor', at The University of Connecticut Sea Grant; ‘Native Plant Ecosystems and Trees’ at Roger Williams University; Art, Architecture and Historic Preservation School; ‘Newport's Historic Beech Trees, Collection and Stewardship’, the Poetics of Plant Design Colloquium at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. and she spoke about her own work at DesignXri during RI Design Week at the Newport Art Museum.

Tanya lives in Newport with her dog Pepper. When not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and likes to putter in her house and garden, travel, write, make art, and observe nature.

 

 

“…….. Tanya's workplace in historic Newport, it is indeed a place of inspiration and imagination coupled with confidence and competence.” Peter K.

 

“My husband and I have worked with Tanya Kelley for over 20 years doing both interior and exterior design for our home. Tanya is very easy to work with as she has the ability to hear what the client wants and needs and respond accordingly. She has a beautiful aesthetic and we have always been extremely happy with the results of her wonderful designs.” Valerie M.

 

"I found Tanya creative, inspirational and able to envision what a mature garden might look like. She incorporated plants that I like, along with others I might not have considered. She was super to work with and very talented."  Barbara C.