Explore The 2025 Tour Projects
Showcasing Amazing Examples of Residential Landscape Architecture
Cover image: Herlita/Adobe Stock
Preview The Projects!
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 3rd, 2025
Showcasing Amazing Examples of Residential Landscape Architecture
Set in the historic Windsor Road neighborhood, this project blends traditional charm with contemporary outdoor living. As part of a complete remodel, the design focuses on creating a seamless flow between the home’s interior and its newly transformed exterior spaces.
A wall of windows off the back living room frames the landscape, drawing attention to the pool and its softened edges, where lush plantings lend a sense of calm. A large poolside covered porch, outdoor kitchen, and detached garage complete the space, offering both functionality and elegance for this client’s love of outdoor entertaining.
To honor the home’s colonial architecture, the entry walkway is flanked by a traditional hedge, providing timeless curb appeal. Meanwhile, climbing vines screen the carport, and large evergreen shrubs create a natural barrier for privacy, ensuring the space feels both inviting and secluded.
images: Matthew Niemann
We were so excited when the client reached out in 2021 about joining his architect in the effort to reimagine his home! The architect had already established a simple and orderly design language with a masculine color palette of dark materials, and we were tasked with developing a new entry sequence and an outdoor living space in the backyard.
The client had requested a more dynamic visual composition from the street and was interested in the idea of a courtyard with seating. We proposed a concrete breezeblock wall as it projects a strong visual presence that allows for the rest of the design elements to be very simple yet not feel boring. The simple language and sparse composition carry over to the backyard, which is organized as three satellite spaces orbiting around the glass-enclosed sitting room.
Each space has a clear function and is connected by a combination of poured-in-place concrete and Lueder stone pavers. The paving rhythm speaks to the openings and edges of the house. The seating area is tucked into the side yard and feels scaled just right for the space. The firepit patio feels the most connected to the yard beyond.
images: Matt Norton
This thoughtfully designed urban oasis maximizes a smaller yard with a perfect blend of materials and functionality.
A new street-facing fence provides privacy, while custom concrete pavers create a seamless flow through the space. The existing deck was revitalized with rich tropical Ipe, extending across both upper and lower levels. A sleek new pergola enhances shade and comfort, while a stunning custom pool—framed by Ipe decking and an outdoor shower anchors the retreat. Finally, a central concrete fire pit connects the elements, inviting year-round gathering. The dining area is both stylish and functional, featuring custom outdoor furniture, including a handcrafted table, a movable bench, and a floating bench—all complemented by overhead fans for a breezy, welcoming atmosphere.
It was a challenge to incorporate so many features into this size space, but the end result is very intimate and comfortable!
renders/images courtesy Collective Creative Outdoors
Outdoor living in the busy urban Mueller neighborhood comes with many obvious benefits, but achieving balance among the abundant social connections along the sidewalks, while holding onto an adequate private refuge is crucial.
Completed in 2024, this recent project sits nearby the iconic Mueller Control Tower and features a smart assortment of entertainment spaces, including a novel Japanese-inspired fountain, nestled within a variety of richly planted areas. These inventive spaces practically grow out of a series of steel-framed terraces, neatly containing gravel surfaces to support a wide assortment of outdoor leisure activities, shaded by an interlocking arrangement of vine-covered steel trellises.
Finally, our clients have redefined the modern garden gathering with ecotopes’ own line of outdoor lounge furniture that draw upon mid-century modern aesthetics.
images: Athen Smith
This dramatic renovation transforms a modest pond into a sophisticated ecosystem that anchors a native prairie landscape.
The new 15’x15′ design features a formal mortared flagstone patio that precisely meets the water’s edge, creating an elegant transition from living space to natural pond. A constructed wetland filter paired with the BioFalls system maintains crystal-clear water through multiple cascading waterfalls, while oversized flagstone fish caves provide sanctuary beneath the surface. Native prairie plantings and water lilies soften the waterline, extending into a carefully curated front yard habitat. The negative edge feature introduces a mesmerizing stream that reimagines the front approach, supported by a concealed 2000-gallon storage basin.
This comprehensive design merges sustainable water management with aesthetic excellence, transforming a standard front yard into a dynamic prairie waterscape where architecture meets nature.
images: Level Up Photos
Embark on an enchanting journey to this backyard oasis, where nature seamlessly blends with modern luxury. With its inviting depths and shimmering surface, the pool is a serene centerpiece that cools and revitalizes, surrounded by terracing and lush greenery. The hot tub provides a tranquil retreat where warmth envelops you and melts away tension. A custom steel pergola defines outdoor rooms for lounging and cooking. The graceful structure allows dappled sunlight to stream through while still providing shade.
A custom kitchen with a Trager grill and outdoor fridge provide all you need to elevate your al fresco dining experience. The deck, with its thoughtfully designed layout, serves as a canvas for both relaxation and entertainment, providing a platform for seamless transitions between different zones of your oasis.
Tucked in the bamboo is a captivating fire pit, transforming cool evenings into cozy gatherings. Next to the fire pit, a lush green is a perfect canvas for endless lawn games activities. A custom sound system creates musical ambiance for whatever vibe you want to create.
renders courtesy Form & Flora Landscape Design
Situated in the Westlake neighborhood, this landscape architecture project transforms the backyard into a breathtaking outdoor retreat, seamlessly blending modern design with the natural beauty of the surrounding environment.
Perched among the trees beside a wet-weather creek on the way to Lake Austin, a 1,500-square-foot ipe deck offers a unique outdoor sanctuary. Cantilevering partially over the creek, the deck incorporates a variety of living spaces, including a kitchen, dining area, seating, and lounging zones, with direct access to the creek below.
The redesign offers a perfect balance of relaxation and scenic views of lush green space. An expansive outdoor kitchen, crafted with high-end materials like a stone countertop and custom-built features, provides an ideal setting for entertaining guests while enjoying the fresh air. Thoughtfully integrated landscaping elements, such as native plants, lush grasses, and dramatic lighting, enhance the space’s overall aesthetic, ensuring privacy while creating an inviting atmosphere.
The entire area flows effortlessly from one feature to the next, offering a harmonious environment for both relaxation and entertainment in the heart of this picturesque community.
images: David DeGendt
the mission: design a hardwood deck that breaks with convention + becomes the living heart of a vibrant new landscape — an assortment of constructed garden elements, filled with a biodiverse arrangement of native plants, hold together this deck as the spatial center featuring ecotopes‘ own collection of LIVING SYSTEMS planters!
images courtesy ecotopes
