Landscape architects Ross Altheimer and Maura Rockcastle believe design begins with the ground beneath our feet—and with the social possibilities that rise from it. That philosophy took center stage at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale, where their Minneapolis-based firm helped shape a monumental installation for the U.S. Pavilion, exploring the porch as a defining element of American design. Their sensitivity to how people inhabit landscapes also informs their work in Minnesota, guiding projects at places such as Fort Snelling at Bdote, where they collaborated with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Dakota Community Council to foster a more inclusive understanding of place and history. That sense of grounding feels right at home for Altheimer. “Minneapolis is a city in a park,” he says. “How can you not love that?”