Landscape integration
What is landscape integration?
Landscape integration is the bridge between architecture and ecology. We don't design landscapes as decorative afterthoughts—they're core to the architectural vision. Hardscaping, planting, water features, and spatial flows are orchestrated to create cohesive environments where the building and landscape speak the same language, where the boundary between inside and outside dissolves.
This approach treats landscape as architecture and architecture as landscape. The result is outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically responsive, that support native ecosystems while creating meaningful human experiences.
How we approach landscape integration
Our process begins with deep site study. We analyze topography, hydrology, existing ecology, microclimate, and spatial qualities. We then design outdoor spaces that respond to these conditions while creating beautiful environments for human inhabitation and gathering.
Core deliverables include:
- • Site analysis: Comprehensive study of topography, water flow, existing vegetation, soil, sun and wind patterns, and ecological character.
- • Master planning: Outdoor spatial organization that creates natural flows between interior and landscape, with clear zones for cultivation, gathering, and movement.
- • Native planting design: Species selection that thrives in local climate, supports native ecosystems, and creates seasonal rhythm and visual beauty.
- • Water systems: Integration of rain gardens, retention features, water channels, and features that manage stormwater while enhancing beauty and habitat.
- • Material specification: Hardscaping using natural materials—stone, gravel, wood—that weather gracefully and harmonize with the landscape.
- • Seasonal design: Intentional planning for spring bloom, summer shade, autumn color, and winter structure so the landscape reveals new beauty throughout the year.
Is this right for your project?
Landscape integration serves residential clients designing new outdoor spaces, commercial developers creating wellness environments, and anyone seeking to deepen their property's connection to natural systems. You value ecological sensitivity, thoughtful design, and the understanding that landscape is not ornamental—it's foundational to how buildings and people relate to place.
Project example
Courtyard Commons
Landscape Integration · Marin, CA · 2024
A commercial landscape where native planting, water features, and hardscaping create a cohesive gathering space. The design responds to the site's drainage and native ecology while creating beautiful outdoor rooms for community gathering, work, and restoration.
View more projects →Often paired with
Biophilic Residential Architecture
We design homes that integrate landscape, natural light, and organic materials into residential form.
Learn more →Commercial & Hospitality Design
We bring biophilic principles to commercial spaces through thoughtful landscape and building integration.
Learn more →Questions about landscape integration
Do you work with existing landscapes or only new designs?
Both. We can reimagine existing landscapes to enhance ecological value and human connection, or design from scratch on new sites. Our approach begins with deep site study regardless of the starting point.
How do you handle maintenance and ecological health?
We design landscapes that require minimal intervention once established. Native planting, healthy soil, and responsive water systems reduce maintenance while supporting native ecosystems. We often provide maintenance guidelines and grow-in plans.
Can landscape integration work in urban settings?
Yes. Urban landscapes benefit greatly from integration principles. Even small courtyards, rooftops, and street-facing gardens can become biodiverse, beautiful, and restorative through thoughtful design.
Ready to design landscapes that thrive and restore?
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