At the southern edge of Seattle, marked by a towering cedar and views of Tahoma/Mt. Rainier, lies a future refuge and community hub. The Spirit Journey Village will provide safe, supportive housing and culturally-informed healing services for Native women impacted by homelessness, substance use, and interpersonal violence. Developed in close collaboration with Mother Nation staff and residents, the landscape design supports collective healing through spaces to gather, reflect, and connect with the land. 

Framed by three shared homes and a common house, the central courtyard forms the heart of community life, with a fire circle for gathering and workshops, a Coast Salish canoe play feature for families, a terraced community garden for residents to tend the land, and a sweat. A hedge planted with native species used for traditional food, craft, and medicine defines the edges of the site and provides a sense of safety and enclosure. Tucked into the landscape, smaller spaces create opportunities for residents to sit in quiet reflection, walk the land, and enjoy the views to sacred Tahoma.