Multi-Family Residential

Aloft at Cortez Hill – San Diego, California

IMG_3194-ed-smThe problem:

Due to a major building re-construction, everything in the courtyard would have to be demolished. This required a complete re-design.

Existing improvements included a concrete wall and water feature which separated the pool area from the remainder of the deck, rendering it all but invisible. Behind it was a sandpit which had never been used and cabanas which had become the locus of occasional sordid activity.

The barbecue at the rear was awkwardly placed, due to the restrictive placement of the steel trellis posts, which chop up the utility of the space.

The solution:

The owners wanted a game changer, an elegant, modern but timeless result, with the feeling of a coastal resort.

Since the water feature had to be re-built, we chose a transparent “rain curtain” which became the central focus of the courtyard. This feature and the fire pit behind it, are now visible from the street and create magnetic visual interest.

To increase room in the rear half of the courtyard, we extended the trellis posts to the perimeter planter wall. This allowed for two BBQs, a sink and under-counter refrigerator.

The perimeter planters were rebuilt with new waterproofing and drainage. Planting had to provide a dense screen between the pool and the adjacent private residential units. We chose a hedge of small palms with an abundance of color and texture. The new planters were finished with an earthy porcelain tile, which “grounds” the planting and reflects adjacent colors in the right light.

New lighting gives the space an outdoor room feeling at night.

We added lots of teak furniture with comfy cushions, as a finishing touch.

The Owners’ were so happy with the proposed design, they asked us to expand the scope of work to the entire perimeter of the property, including the building colors and all exterior lighting.

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Ariel Suites – Downtown, San Diego, California

Ariel SuitesWith AVRP Studios and Ron Neal Lighting Design

Landscape and hardscape design for this award winning, luxury 25-story high-rise apartment building in San Diego, included:

  • – Scored paving, tree grates and trees on both streets
  • – Co-design of hardscape and paving on the 4th floor pool deck with fire/water feature, barbecue, large scale pottery and landscape
  • – Intensive and extensive green roofs on the 5th, 6th, 24th and 25th floors
  • – Lacy black bamboo and cast iron plant were utilized in front of the famous Weyland Whales mural to emulate sea kelp in the ocean

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Palma de la Reina – Rancho Santa Fe, California

Palma de la ReinaPalma de la Reina

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Laurel Hill – San Diego, California

Laurel Hill

This landscape design set a new paradigm for water conserving plantings for a mid Century Modern classic building in Banker’s Hill San Diego, with an estimated water savings of over $4,000 per year. New hardscape and lighting were also added.

The previous landscape was all lawn, and was replaced with California native plants, brightly colored succulents and other very drought tolerant ornamentals. Strips of the highly water conserving ‘U.C. Verde’ Buffalo grass were used to facilitate pedestrian traffic across the wide parkway strip.

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The Harbor Club – Downtown, San Diego, California

Harbor Club

This recently completed re-construction project was for the 6th floor plaza, a roof garden at the Harbor Club in downtown San Diego. The Harbor Club consists of two high-end residential towers each with 100 condominiums; which at the time of construction had the highest height to width ratio of any buildings in California. Design work started with a new master plan, including all hardscape and landscape with a well planned color and materials board for the upcoming work. Included are a pool remodel, a new spa in a completely revised location, 3 separate fountains (one of which is a fire/water element), new outdoor lighting, barbecue and complete re-landscaping in the spirit of the original garden.

During demolition and re-construction, all materials (including specimen palm trees) had to be hauled to or from the site, more than 60 feet off the ground. A complete re-waterproofing of the roof deck began the re-construction. While the pool was simply remodeled, the spa was re-located to a completely different spot on the roof deck, no small feat considering its location.  It now occupies a larger setting and a central location.

This 6th floor roof garden is constantly alive with perennial and annual flower color and fragrance. Palm trees rustle in the breeze, reminding the users of their proximity to the ocean and the subtropics. Brugmansia and Alyssum delight the visitor with their perfumed aromas. Night lighting produces a high-end resort quality on the roof top, which overlooks the harbor, Convention Center and other vistas of downtown San Diego.

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Sea Breeze Apartments – Imperial Beach, California

Sea Breeze ApartmentsComplete landscape and building façade renovation, work included sign monuments at the corners of the project, streetscape, landscape in the courtyards, landscape lighting and exterior building remodel in a contemporary style.

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Carleton Apartments – Point Loma, San Diego, California

Carleton Apartments

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Mission Hills Commons – San Diego, California

MIssion Hills CommonsThis project encompasses an entire City block in the heart of San Diego’s Mission Hills neighborhood. All the streetscape was re-built to current standards, but also included enhanced paving connections from within the site, front porch style entries and trellising, street trees and a new bus stop.

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Hillside Gardens Apartments – San Diego, California

Hillside Gardens

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Friars Village – San Diego, California

Friar's Village Work included a completely new Landscape Master Plan for the entire 44 acre site, built circa 1971, which responded to the City of San Diego’s order for a substantial conformance review. At the same time, replacement plantings for missing and aging trees, shrubs and groundcover were designed to completely update the look of the Community. Extensive liaison with the City was required, including a review of the original CUP (Conditional Use Permit) documents, submittals and plan check corrections through approvals.
The proposed plant palette includes new, drought tolerant and xeriphytic plant species, which still provide continuity, color and texture to the landscape. A new Tree Master Plan was included. Turf areas were greatly reduced and replaced with low drought tolerant and procumbent groundcovers.

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Rancho San Vicente – Ramona, California

Rancho San VicenteAlong with newly landscaped medians, our firm designed a signage monumentation package for this upscale community in rural Ramona. The project required approvals from the Ramona Community Planning Group, and permitting through the County of San Diego. Work included construction documents, bidding and construction administration.

LED lighting was incorporated into the design, with electrical connections to be added in Phase 2. The landscaped medians are extremely drought tolerant, appropriate for the climate in Ramona and Southern California’s water future.

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Mosaic, A Planned Community – Escondido, California

Mosaic TownhomesA 42 Home, 3.6 acre development on a north facing hillside. Work included oak tree relocation, drives and walks, walls, and fencing, development of the sales models with enhanced amenities, and all site landscape.

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Augusta Place, Eastlake Greens – Chula Vista, California

Augusta Place, Eastlake Greens - Chula Vista, CaliforniaTraditional craftsman era community with a gated entry and one quarter mile of streetscape. Custom brick paving, walls, hand-forged iron gates, and vintage iron street lamps were included in the design. The streetscape culminates in a park-like setting with pergola, garden and birdbath.

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The Lodge at Banker’s Hill (a.k.a. Nob Hill) – San Diego, California

01 Nob Hill4This 60+ D.U. mixed product infill residential development occupies most of a City block. Landscape Architectural work included, development of all finished paving on driveways and podiums, outdoor recreation area with trellises, seating, barbecue and screening, and all exterior landscape and streetscape. A large 70 year old Podocarpus tree on one corner of the site was preserved.

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Tradition Apartment Homes – Carlsbad, California

Tradition Apartment Homes - Carlsbad, CaliforniaScope of work for this 140+ unit apartment home community included complete hardscape, landscape improvement plans and permit approvals for a 30 acre site. On-site amenities included a recreation center with pool and spa, children’s play area and high intensity landscape. Work also included development and landscaping of a 1/4 mile stretch of new median on El Camino Real, a large native plant revegetation, and extensive use of reclaimed water irrigation.

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Highland Park Apartment Homes – Roseville, California

Highland Park Apartment Homes - Roseville, CaliforniaComplete site and landscape Development for a 244 unit, 13.5 acre garden apartment complex. Work included a recreation center with trellis, pool/spa and patios,barbecue area, flatwork and enhanced paving, site walls, sign monuments, gates and fencing. Landscape included streetscape on 3 sides, native planting, a buffer to the adjacent riparian area, play areas and a strong tree component.

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Marston Point – San Diego, California

Marston Point - San Diego, CaliforniaAn entire City block near downtown San Diego was redeveloped with 3 different types of infill housing. While the buildings took up much of the site, landscape areas were pivotal in conveying a sense of place and relation to the street. Turfblock paving in driveways, vine pockets floating staircases and a wide landscaped parkway helped achieve this result. The project was so successful, it became a case study for the Urban Land Institute’s book, Developing Infill Housing.

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The Lakes at Carmel Del Mar – Carmel Valley, San Diego, California

The Lakes at Carmel Del Mar - Carmel Valley, San Diego, CaliforniaLandscape redevelopment in and around five existing live lake areas and connecting streams in a garden home community. Work included landscape and pond plantings, lighting from the ground, in the trees and irrigation.

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Mesa Commons II – San Diego, California

fullsitecolor2

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Marseilles at Carmel Mountain Ranch (Unit 16, 16C, and 17) – San Diego, California

Carmel Mountain RanchConcept plans, planting and irrigation construction documents for over 280 homes. Construction Administration was included at Marseilles.

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Renaissance La Jolla – La Jolla, California

Renaissance La Jolla - La Jolla, CaliforniaA large scale landscape renovation, including two phases of work, and a tree evaluation and replacement program for a large planned community of 2100 multi-family units covering 114 acres in the Golden Triangle of San Diego.

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Mitchell Ranch – Santee, California

Mitchell Ranch - Santee, CaliforniaDrought tolerant landscape and streetscape improvements using potable and reclaimed water irrigation for a 16 unit subdivision in Santee. The public portions of the project required significant coordination with the City of Santee.

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760 Broadway – Chula Vista, California

760 Broadway

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Starling – San Marcos, California

Starling, a planned communityThe developer utilized this neglected 5 acre site to build a new 28 unit planned community along Rock Springs Blvd, in San Marcos. These landscape development plans feature a tot lot and children’s play area, a through connection to the nearby community park and extensive landscaping along the street frontages.

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Peñasquitos Crestmont – Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California

Penasquitos CrestBrush Management Plans for a 564 Unit Subdivision, based on new City of San Diego requirements. Part of the brush management process included the removal of a significant population of the highly invasive Arundo donax (Giant Reed) for which we developed a successful method and specification.

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Deer Creek – Alpine California

Deer CreekOur firm was called upon to perform research and then provide Brush Management Plans that were responsive towards environmentally sensitive lands, different open space easements, differing property rights, differing vegetation types and Fire District standards for this 250 home, 245 acre community in rural Alpine. The resulting documents can be used in perpetuity for this community.

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Halcyon Condominiums – San Diego, California

Halcyon Entry & FountainRe-design work included 3 entry monument areas, a fountain, pool entry, directory, lighting and attendant landscape.

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Mission Village – San Diego, California

Mission VillageLandscape and site improvements for a seven acre mixed use project in San Diego.

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Coronado Bay Club – Coronado, California

Coronado Bay ClubDesign work included landscape renovation for several courtyards and passageways inside this well appointed timeshare resort on Coronado Bay.

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Aviara Point – Carlsbad, California

Aviara Point - Carlsbad, CaliforniaEnhancements to an existing gated entry at Aviara’s top address included changes to existing entry gate, fountain, guard house, paving, mail boxes, lighting and landscape.

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