GARDENS
“ The clients are models of hands-on participation; they were collaborators in design and execution at every phase,” enthuses Rios Clementi Hale Studios. The clients echoed the love of the collaborative process, especially when creating the raised vegetable garden planter. It is clad in corrugated metal panels and painted bright colors that change as you move around the four sides of the planter.
The planter pulls double duty in the form of a vegetable garden while providing a screen between the sports court and the backyard. Its generous size( 50 x 4 feet) allows the owners to grow food year-round, with enough room to experiment with different varieties.
The transformation of the 1997 design is an inspiring model of the evolving landscape for residents of Southern California … one can’ t help but wonder what another 20 years may bring. •
ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Rios Clementi Hale Studios has earned an international reputation for its collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach, establishing an awardwinning tradition across an unprecedented range of design disciplines. The firm’ s principals— Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA, Julie Smith-Clementi, IDSA, Frank Clementi, AIA, AIGA, Bob Hale, FAIA, and Mark Motonaga— comprise a team involved in every aspect of design, from practice to education. Acknowledging the firm’ s diverse body of work, the American Institute of Architects California Council gave Rios Clementi Hale Studios its 2007 Firm Award, the organization’ s highest honor. For its varied landscape work— from civic parks to private gardens— the firm was named a finalist in the 2009 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards. Since 1985, the architects, landscape architects, planners, and urban, interior, exhibit, graphic and product designers at Rios Clementi Hale Studios have been creating buildings, places, and products that are thoughtful, effective, and beautiful.
PUBLISHER’ S PICKS 2025 65