Fire Features in Bay Area Landscape Architecture
Fire features are among the most transformative components in luxury outdoor living design — especially in the Bay Area’s mild Northern California climate. At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., we integrate fire features not just as functional elements, but as design-driven focal points that extend seasonal living and enhance landscape architecture.
In the Bay Area and broader Northern California, outdoor living spaces are used year-round thanks to mild winters and long evenings. Thoughtfully designed fire features — from classic hearth fireplaces to sleek gas fire pits — capitalize on local climate and regional lifestyle, enhancing morning coffee routines or evening gatherings under stars.
Fireplaces — Bringing Indoor Comfort Outside
Outdoor fireplaces bring the comfort of the indoors into an outdoor living environment. Much like a hearth within the home, they naturally anchor a seating area—creating an inviting place to gather, relax, and linger. In many cases, the materials lean toward the traditional, as seen in the design above, where brick, stone, and wood feel just as at home outdoors as they would in a classic living room setting. Whether wood-burning or gas, the appeal is undeniable. For traditional wood fires, fireplaces also offer a practical advantage: by channeling smoke upward and away from the seating area, they provide a more comfortable experience than fire pits or bowls, which are often at the mercy of shifting winds.
Fire Pits — Casual Gathering & Landscape Geometry
Fire pits evoke the classic experience of gathering around a campfire, bringing a sense of nostalgia and warmth into the landscape. They can range from small, mobile fire bowls to striking architectural centerpieces, and the circular seating areas they create naturally encourage conversation and connection. Whether integrated into a patio, deck, or a poured-gravel garden nook, fire pits add both function and atmosphere to an outdoor living space.
Both wood-burning and gas fire features are available. Gas fire pits offer undeniable convenience and ease of use, while wood fires deliver a more traditional experience that some homeowners prefer. While we may not miss smoke in our eyes, there’s no denying that s’mores taste just a bit better over a real wood fire—sometimes reason enough to keep things classic.
Modern Fire Features — Clean Lines & Architectural Style
Few elements make a stronger statement in a contemporary landscape than a thoughtfully designed modern fire feature. Clean lines and geometric forms allow the flames themselves to take center stage, creating a visual impact that feels both sculptural and effortless. In the design shown above, a cast-concrete fire pit reinforces this ultra-modern aesthetic and, like many features of this style, is fueled by gas for a streamlined experience.
One of the pleasures of modern gas fire pits is the range of materials that can be used beneath the flames. Black lava rock, handmade ceramic spheres, and heat-resistant crushed glass add texture, color, and depth—turning the fire feature into a work of art, even when it’s not in use.
Design Tips for Fire Elements in Bay Area Landscapes
At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., we embraced one of our favorite hues—blue—within this custom fire feature. By pairing modern crushed glass with an antique-style steel gas fire bowl, we created a layered, modern-meets-traditional effect that complements a transitional landscape. Thoughtfully mixing materials, colors, and styles is one of the ways we ensure each design feels distinctive, personal, and tailored to its setting.
We’ve been enjoying this fire bowl throughout the cooler winter months. Tea by the fire? Yes, please.
Getting all fired up about your own landscape? The Landscape Architects at Montgomery Robbins are always up for creating outdoor living spaces, including yours! We’d love to spark up a conversation about your new landscape. Contact our studio anytime!
