Landscape Topography Topography is the science of mapping land formations - determining the depth of valleys, steepness of hills, and where the flattest areas of ground lie. As Landscape Architects, the first step to any design is understanding the site, which includes the way the land is naturally shaped. Therefore, topography [...]
FALL LEAF POTENTIAL This time of year, we are easily reminded why this season is referred to as “Fall.” Fallen leaves are invariably a symbol of Autumn, as well as a yearly chore to remove from one’s yard. But what if we told you that those leaves are more than they [...]
Set the Mood: Ambiance for Outdoor Entertaining As designers of space, we understand that the feeling of your outdoor living space makes all the difference, and never is this more key than when it comes to outdoor entertaining. The feeling we refer to as ‘ambiance’ could better be thought of as the transformative experience [...]
Contemporary Elements We are always excited about new things, especially when they relate to Landscape Architecture, so contemporary landscaping has truly stolen our hearts. Here are a few of our favorite contemporary elements we use in designing landscapes that stun with their simple and innovative modern style. Contemporary Aesthetic [...]
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Architecture & Landscape Design In the Bay Area’s mild Northern California climate, outdoor living naturally extends the home and invites relaxation throughout much of the year. At Montgomery Robbins, Inc., indoor-outdoor living spaces have become an essential element in our East Bay residential landscape architecture projects. These transitional spaces [...]
COLOR IN THE GARDEN Color is an incredibly powerful element in any form of design. When we plan a landscape of any style, it is one of the first things on our minds! Of course color preferences are not the same for everyone, as liking or disliking different colors varies from person [...]
Edible Landscapes - Getting Started It’s starting to feel like summer, and around here we are all excited about what that means for gardens. Not only do we love to see flowers in all their spring splendor, we also love thinking about what we can enjoy eating from our gardens, and how we can [...]
Elements: Water Features In the Landscape When summer heat starts to set in out here in the East Bay, we appreciate even more the element of water in the designed landscape. Water features can take many forms. A swimming pool, of course, offers the ultimate refresh on a hot day. But even [...]
Traditional Landscape Architecture We like to think we’re at least sort of worldly, and so we realize that “Traditional” is kind of a misnomer. After all, designed landscapes have been created worldwide for millennia, and we acknowledge the influence of Egyptian, Greek, Moorish, Chinese, Japanese, and many other Landscape Traditions on our [...]
Roses In The Landscape As Landscape Architects, the plants we incorporate into our designed spaces are as integral to the experience as our built structures. We love many plants for their beauty, durability, and long-term performance in the garden, and of course we share our clients’ favorites, among them the [...]
