P h o t o s b y M i c h a e l L a v i n F l o w e r, C o u r t e s y o f W a l t e r C u d n o h u f s k y A s s o c i a t e s, I n c.
The Legacy of Walter Cudnohufsky
FROM SHY FARM BOY TO RENOWNED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
B y E l i s e L i n s c o t t G l a d s t o n e
GROWING UP in southern Michigan, Walter Cudnohufsky was“ a shy farm kid who loved making things grow and walking animals around at the county fair,” as he puts it. In order to truly like and accept himself, he made it a goal to overcome his shyness by teaching— and he’ s found a myriad of ways to marry teaching into his career as a landscape architect and planner, and even as a painter.
Today, his local legacy includes founding the Conway School for Landscape Design in Northampton, where he also served as director from 1972 to 1992; starting a landscape design and planning firm based in Ashfield; and designing gardens and outdoor spaces for clients ranging from Shakespeare & Company to the Town of Great Barrington and private gardens around New England.
“ I’ m an unusual guy because I started out deciding as a sophomore in high school with a guidance counselor that I wanted to be a landscape architect,” he says.“ And here I am a few years later, still acting as a landscape architect.”
His teaching philosophy, which is still in use at the Conway School today, is to be a learner as much as a teacher. That’ s also how he overcame his shyness, by thinking of himself as a facilitator and co-learner at the school rather than labeling himself as a teacher. This is also an approach he’ s enacted at his firm, Walter Cudnohufsky Associates, Inc. He is still an associate at the firm but handed over ownership to Chuck Schnell and Kirsten Baringer last April. Both Schnell and Baringer were graduates of the Conway School and have been working with Cudnohufsky for years.
“ Walt’ s influence on me is immeasurable,” Baringer says.“ Though I have other influences and background and my own sensibilities, the school he founded opened to me the world of landscape architecture and planning.
“ Walt is a consummate mentor who gave his employees a lot of space and responsibility in their work. I have not been on a project where he didn’ t see opportunities to incorporate learning and reflection, for all parties involved. Under his tutelage, one is encouraged to ask questions and challenge assumptions, to think outside of the box.”
Schnell and Cudnohufsky also teach a horticulture certificate level two course at Berkshire Botanical Garden( BBG). Schnell
Left, a view of a private residence in Alford. Opposite, top right, a private residence near the village of Housatonic, which had a planting plan that strongly focused on native plants. Walter Cudnohufsky Associates, Inc. saw both projects through from start to finish: from home and driveway siting; to full site, grading, lighting plans and details; through to final planting plans. Opposite, top left, Walter Cudnohufsky.
48 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Spring 2026