An Invitation to Dawdle

David is the founding principal of HILLWORKS: landscape + architecture as well as a professor in landscape architecture at Auburn University. Based in Auburn, Alabama, HILLWORKS is grounded in the ecological and cultural complexities of the southeast. They revel in the spirit of craft, thrift, and resourcefulness that permeates the region. HILLWORKS projects have been presented nationally and internationally at conferences, symposia, and universities and published in rags like Dwell, Landscape Architecture Magazine, ReModeling, and Society South. HILLWORKS recently received the 2024 Emerging Voices Award from the Architecture League of New York. Prior to HILLWORKS, David helped unearth post-industrial landscapes as an Associate, and later a Principal, at D.I.R.T. studio.

At Auburn University, David leads research seminars and investigative design studios that unpack the complexity of the landscape across the rich spectrum of urban and rural conditions. Born and raised in a plant nursery in South Georgia, David developed a deep affinity for plants and an early admiration for the rich, working landscape of the south. After 20 years of experience, this fascination with cultural and productive landscapes continues to impact how David unpacks site histories and explores design opportunities. Borrowing from the rich lineage of experimentation and long-term management in gardening, he strives to curate immersive experiences with plant assemblages that inspire imagination and awe.

David graduated from Georgia Tech in Architecture and earned a Master in Landscape Architecture and Master in Architecture from the University of Virginia.