Explore The 2024 Tour Homes
Showcasing Amazing Examples of Residential Landscape Architecture
About 48 hours before Tour Day, watch your email for a printable PDF map and info packet, as well as links to a dynamic online map for easy navigation.
Travel at your own pace as you visit the homes in any order you wish between 10AM and 3PM Saturday, May 4, 2024
Showcasing Amazing Examples of Residential Landscape Architecture
Our clients regularly host and entertain but lacked the space on site for gathering and parking because of the steep slope on their property that was terraced into a small patio and a small, under-utilized “yard”. The proposed solution was to provide a covered carport alongside the existing house that was to be dug into the steep slope with a patio on top that would extend the usable space of the existing rear patio. Though the construction of such a space required significant amounts of rock and earth to be removed from the site, the resultant space is a visually minimal intervention adjacent to the existing residence.
Site-cast, concrete retaining walls allow the carport to be recessed into the sloping hill which also provides a backdrop for the light steel members supporting the structure. A ribbon-like canopy, that tops the carport, frames an outdoor dining table and lounge space while screening the neighboring property creating the perfect urban oasis. The terraced design naturally creates multiple gathering and seating zones, allowing the small footprint to function as if it were much larger.
images: Jake Holt
This project was completed in two phases. In the front yard we revitalized the planting scheme and added a handrail and steel steps to match the existing steel-retained beds. The back landscape was outfitted with a new pool, pergola, perimeter fence, custom side gate and landscape lighting including firefly pendant lights in the canopy. The pergola was dressed with pendant lights, fans, creamy neutral colors and a bright open light well. A breeze block wall and a privacy screen enclose two decks connected by a bar grate catwalk, and a second breeze block wall frames the BBQ area. Planting beds soften the space around the protected trees and new grass provides a play space for the family and dogs.
images: Courtesy Open Envelope Studio
A unique opportunity was presented to us. A two-unit home, where the front house is used by the daughter and her family, and the back home by her dad. Both have their architectural requirement that we need to fulfill. These two spaces have a notable elevation difference. The solution was to incorporate an extension of the back porch with a beautiful IPE deck that wraps around the main feature of an elevated pool. Creating different spaces around it, a seating space under a custom pergola, an outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit area where grampa and family can cook marshmallows. All are accentuated by hand-made tile. Always following our eclectic design aesthetic that Colectivo is known for.
images: Itzel Ponce
Take a walk through a series of outdoor rooms designed as an arrangement of patios + pathways lying within an enhanced native woodland habitat — our client challenged us to nurture their existing collection of trees, which consists of regional oaks, elms + big-tooth maple — to ensure plant health, ecotopes retrofitted a drip system to specifically target all plants
Smart steel landscape terraces link up the varied entertainment lounges + contemplation spaces featured in the design — the entire setting is further cradled within a lyrical, curvilinear steel screening wall that weaves through naturalized plantings
The landscape is impeccably outfitted with ecotopes’ own line of outdoor furnishing items, including loungers, planters, vertical screens, hibachi, fireplace + complete dining set — these exceptional pieces have been locally designed, handcrafted + entirely Austin-made
images: courtesy of ecotopes
Co-designed with Green Eye Studio
Our clients were building a pool into a very steep slope on their property and were looking for a landscape that allowed for seating, native planting and walkways. One of the clients is an architect and had a clear idea of materials and look that she wanted. We took her vision and made it into a reality with a lueder patio at the shallow side of the pool, steel terracing and stone steps leading down the slope along the side of the pool, stone retaining walls at the top and bottom of the property and two custom steel fences at both ends.
images: Seedlings Landscape Design Build
The landscape upgrades at the Milwood home focused on the owners’ main priorities: enjoying their outdoor space with friends and family among attractive, native-planted landscapes.
David and Emilia required solutions to some common problems, and also held unique preferences that led to specific challenges.
In the sun-splashed front yard, the pair were looking to create more patio area for morning coffee sessions and evening relaxation. They also needed a wider walkway. While these objectives dovetailed with one another, they also needed to solve a drainage problem that forced stormwater into the garage — which additional impervious cover would not alleviate.
The solution was a front yard rain garden, planted in a gentle swale structure. The garden soon began collecting stormwater, and the plants inside thrived. The patio was furnished with Adirondack chairs and an outdoor rug, and suddenly had a colorful visual centerpiece that also added some privacy from the road.
The back yard landscape, installed in a subsequent phase, used matching materials but scaled up the concept to prioritize guests. A spacious sawed limestone patio accommodates a 10-seat dinner table and a dedicated grill pad.
Another garden designed for rain capture borders it, adding color and diverting stormwater from the foot-trafficked areas. A large, decomposed granite ring, or “racetrack,” creates a play area for the energetic dogs. Accents like bird feeders and potted plants provide visual interest.
The finishing touch is the outdoor lighting. Fixtures carefully inset into landscape stones create attractive, functional light in walkways and corners for after-dark comfort.
images: courtesy Maas Verde Landscape Restoration
This space features everything you could want in outdoor living: A beautiful pool and spa with a convenient outdoor shower to rinse off, an outdoor lounge with a fire pit and built in seating and a covered patio featuring a floating outdoor kitchen and dining space.
renders courtesy Austin Outdoor Design
A very stylish couple living in the Austin neighborhood of Rosedale wanted a refresh of their exterior spaces. The garden came together to provide balance with the architecture with the unique planting requests. One of the homeowners is from Arizona and the front garden is an homage to the desert landscape of his youth, while considering the look of the architecture and neighborhood along with the changing climate in Austin. The rear garden provides lushness to the hardscape elements and creates a welcoming space to relax, entertain and raise a family.
images: Ray Suero
From the Owner:
After six years of owning a salon, I aimed to construct a backyard studio for my salon, with a modern exterior mirroring our front house’s aesthetic. My vision was for a contemporary and natural ambiance inside. After a lot of research, we decided to use Studio Shed. It was important for the space to also serve as a guest house during weekends when we entertain friends in town, so it was spatially optimized with a full bathroom and a compact kitchenette. Considering our young family, my husband and I focused on landscaping the backyard to be kid-friendly and perfect for hosting gatherings. Though we still have a few additions planned for the yard, we’re delighted with the outcome and love our Studio Shed!
images: Logan Hutchings
