HOA Landscape Renovation: A Vision of Sustainable Beauty
HOA rehabilitation project:
A Vision of Sustainable Beauty
HOA Rehabilitation Landscape Architectural Design Project.
A Vision of Sustainable Beauty
This landscape renovation project for St. Malo Heights embraces a holistic, sustainable approach, enhancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the community while bringing in the lush vibrancy of year-round blooming California native plants.
Economic Benefits:
The design incorporates drought-tolerant native species and efficient irrigation systems to reduce water consumption by 50% and maintenance costs by 70%, ensuring long-term economic
savings for the community.
By enhancing the visual appeal with carefully selected plants that thrive throughout the seasons, the project aims to elevate the market attractiveness of St. Malo Heights, benefiting property
values.
Social Benefits:
Zone A (Main Island) is envisioned as a vibrant community hub, featuring inviting paths, shaded seating areas, and fragrant plantings to foster social interaction and leisure.
The project targets a reduction in the Heat Island Effect by 2-3 degrees, creating a more comfortable outdoor environment for residents.
A focus on non-allergenic, non-toxic plant selections ensures a safe and inclusive landscape for all community members, from children to seniors.
Environmental Benefits:
The introduction of diverse California native plants will create a lush, natural environment that flourishes year-round, offering seasonal color and texture while requiring minimal water. These
native species will support local wildlife, enhance biodiversity, and promote a thriving ecosystem.
The planting strategy emphasizes a balanced ecological microsystem that evolves organically over time, fostering resilience, self-sufficiency, and a dynamic landscape that continues to
beautify and enrich the community.
Project Zones: The renovation project is thoughtfully divided into zones to maximize usability, sustainability, and aesthetic value, ensuring each area contributes to the overall vision of a
flourishing, green, and welcoming St. Malo Heights.
The project consists of three main zones:
Zone A: Main Island, serving as a community space.
Zone B: Front Yard Landscape.
Zone C: Streetscape along Grandview St. and Couch St.
Zone D: Slope
General Design Intent
The primary goal of the design is to transform the existing space, which includes turf, some invasive trees, and an outdated irrigation system into a beautiful sanctuary that has a high level of
efficiency and performance. The new landscape will feature California native plants with low water requirements, bioswales to capture rainwater, and a drip irrigation system.
Maintenance costs are projected to be reduced in designing area (Zone A, B) by 70%.
Water consumption is projected to be reduced by 50%.
Existing Condition Drone Images
Existing Condition Analysis
Overall Current Landscape Performance
St. Malo Heights HOA is currently facing high maintenance, repair, and water consumption bills each year. The existing Landscape Architectural Plan, developed in 1985, no longer meets
today's needs. The current landscape includes numerous topiary-shaped bushes requiring extensive maintenance. Additionally, many trees have invasive root systems that damage concrete
driveways, pedestrian walkways, and potentially building foundations. This issue needs urgent attention. (reference to Appendix 3, 4)
Moreover, the existing irrigation system is outdated, characterized by very high water consumption, frequent repair needs, and insufficient coverage.
Projected Financial Impacts of Maintaining the Current Landscape Design
Given the current environmental and economic conditions, it is essential to consider the financial implications of maintaining our existing landscape. In Southern California, rising inflation and
escalating water costs are expected to significantly increase the expenses associated with landscape maintenance and water usage.
As of today, the annual cost for maintenance, water bills, and necessary repairs amounts to $74,255. However, this figure is projected to rise each year due to the compounding effects of inflation and the increasing costs of water resources. Without changes to the landscape, these financial burdens will continue to grow, placing an even greater strain on our budget over time.
HOA Challenges
Given the current state of the landscape and associated liabilities, we can anticipate that the annual budget for maintenance, repairs, and water bills will continue to rise. Considering
inflation and the increasing costs in construction, it is reasonable to assume that any future landscape adjustments at St. Malo Heights HOA will be more expensive compared to today's
prices.
Proactive landscape improvements now could help mitigate these rising costs, ensuring a more sustainable and cost‐effective approach for the community moving forward.
3D Visuals
Planting Plan selection
The new design introduces California native species, including native lawns, to the main common area (Zone A). Initially, these plants will require regular watering during their establishment
phase, but after two years from installation, we plan to significantly reduce water consumption.
By selecting plants with very low to low water requirements, we ensure that we avoid significant financial liabilities. It's also important to note that the chosen plant varieties require minimal
maintenance. For the first two years after installation, maintenance will be limited to occasional leaf collection and routine checks. After the second year, maintenance will involve trimming
some plants once or twice a year, which represents a significant cost reduction compared to the current landscape maintenance requirements.
Additionally, by utilizing a variety of plant heights, the new landscape will provide more shade, help cool the environment, and refresh the air.
Based on our estimates, we project that by 2030 (2031 with Asphalt sealing), the cost of implementing and maintaining a new landscape design will be comparable to the current
expenses of maintaining the existing landscape.
Are you looking for Landscape Architect firm that would help to convert your HOA into a Sustainable Beauty incl. econimical, environmental and social aspects? Then you are in a right place.
Sanctury of YUM, Exotic Orchards & Wellness Programs. Bonsall, California.
Sanctuary of YUM
Bonsall, California
https://sanctuaryofyum.com/
Sanctuary of YUM Landscape Architectural Design
LASD Studio works across garden design, landscape architecture, urban design, and regional landscape design based in San Diego and works internationally.
Sanctuary of YUM, Bonsall, San Diego county, California
Pre-design brainstorming
We wanted to create something magical, and come up with the idea of creating a very unique Oasis of Sanctuary that has a strond Identity, Usability and Relaxing atmosphere.
EXISTING CONDITION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This space, housing Exotic Orchards & Wellness Programs, provides private and group retreats. Our designing work began in 2020 when its owners Laurence and Yulia contacted us. They had an overall idea of this retreat business, but didn't know where to begin. We came up with the holistic vision for the conceptual design, which, upon numerous changes that took us about 2 years, grew into the version you can see in the video. We were so astounded of this amazing couple who not only got the design intentions but also were fully engaged in the process. Today, this is a true oasis in Bonsall for retreats that helps other people to restore their energy. It is a four-acre property that originally consisted of fifty-year-old avocado and pomegranate orchards that were in decline. The owners lovingly restored the orchards through pruning and planting cover crops with pollinators, among other natural techniques. We designed several other areas to complement what already existed, including a temple garden; a multipurpose space they call the Dragon’s Den which has a hot/cold tub, seating for dining, a dance floor, and a Balinese entry; an eighty-foot pergola farm table for hosting farm to table events; over 3000 square feet of vegetable and flower terraces; a new waterfall and pond.
Please check Sanctuary of YUM - https://sanctuaryofyum.com/
LASD Studio ‘Your Bridge to Nature’
SUNCTUARY OF YUM
Bonsall, San Diego county, California
Red Hawk Ridge. Alpine, San Diego county, California
Red Hawk Ridge, Alpine, California
https://www.redhawkridgeevents.com/
3D Conceptual presentation
LASD Studio works across garden design, landscape architecture, urban design, and regional landscape design based in San Diego and works internationally.
Garden of Marriage, Alpine, San Diego county, California
Pre-design brainstorming
We want to create structure that coula accomodate 360 sitting places for dinning and still gently touch pre-exisitng condition of virgin landscape with its ecosystem and established buidiverse values.
EXISTING CONDITION
One of the main concern was to rather add biodiversity value with our intervention then create a new landmark.
PROJECT DESIGN DRAWINGS
About the Conceptual Landscape Design:
We combine contemporary vision of sustainability with the exisitng country craftsman style of the house.
Here is work in progress.
Please check Red Hawk Ridge - https://www.redhawkridgeevents.com/
LASD Studio ‘Your Bridge to Nature’
Wedding venue - Contemporary + country craftsman styles
Alpine, San Diego county, California
Urban scape - Capistrano HOA. San Diego, California.
Capistrano
Streetscape design
A little about the design. We bound all the site with hedge plant - Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunset’. This purple hedge really make a statement in a very easy and elegant way.
As we can see, the hedge is the main element that unies the sites in one coherent design. Also, it creates a pockets for different plantings. Passing by, people will experience diversity of spaces and atmospheres.
PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
CAPISTRANO HOA, San Diego, California.
‘ We never really thought of red hedge. Such a simple and strong element creates a huge difference for the appearance and aesthetic of the building.
Thank you for your effort in this design.’
Capistrano board HOA.
Our landscape, ecology, future of the planet, and our civilization is under a big risk. We aim to create, shape, and restore the landscape and urban environments for the sustainable continuation of life on our planet. Our goal is to live in balance with nature and provide: clean water, air, soil resources for the next generation. But we cannot achieve our goal alone.
Whether you are private person, commercial, NGO’s, or governmental institution you are welcome to join our mission.
Life begins with you. Join our mission today.
Capistrano Urban Scape
San Diego, California.
Traditional Garden. Kattrup, Denmark.
Kattrup is one of the greatest manifest of garden design in nowadays.
This traditional garden with rich architectural elements from Baroque epoch.
It’s been design by two amazing landscape architects – Gregory Brian Kobett and Yura Lotonenko in 2016, Denmark.
This project took office design for almost a year before we begin the construction. It included over 200 drawings with custom designed elements. This is truly unique garden of thorough design in contemporary time of great Danish architecture.
Walled garden, Orangery, Passage, Pergolas, Plantings, and design elements are carefully selected and combined in comprehensive cohesive manifesto of synchronicity in design and installation of this rich exterior space.
PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
Baroque gardens were intended to illustrate the mastery of man over nature.
EXISTING CONDITION
This project designed and built to last for generations.
WORK IN PROGRESS & SUPERVISION
Welcome to Kattrup, Denmark.
Our landscape, ecology, future of the planet, and our civilization is under a big risk. We aim to create, shape, and restore the landscape and urban environments for the sustainable continuation of life on our planet. Our goal is to live in balance with nature and provide: clean water, air, soil resources for the next generation. But we cannot achieve our goal alone.
Whether you are private person, commercial, NGO’s, or governmental institution you are welcome to join our mission.
Life begins with you. Join our mission today.
Baroque Garden
Kattrup, Denmark.
Ethno village. Reykjavik, Island.
LASD Studio works across garden design, landscape architecture, urban design, and regional landscape design. Our goal is to live in balance with nature. With landscape design, we have to close the cycle of clean water, fresh air, ready to plant soil, and other vital resources for the next generation.
Ethno Village is a free shape space where you can be fully connected with the local nature of Reykjavik. This is a perfect place to spend time for a weekend or a little holiday. Ethno Village can facilitate a special ethnic festival, a hike midpoint, meditation or yoga classes, team-building events, etc. The iconic spherical traveler pods enhance the uniqueness of the place magnetizing more visitors with time by its artistic visual representation. The campus design includes 3 main elements: Spherical traveler pods, Carnival center as a main facility building with the green roof, and a large outdoor concert area for meetings and concerts. Ethno Village is a free shape constantly evolving environment as per user needs. The flow of travelers determined by the simplicity of nature. Travelers pods are easy to relocate when needed.
Our landscape, ecology, civilization, and the future of the planet are at risk. We aim to create, shape, and restore the landscape and urban environments for the sustainable continuation of life on our planet. Our goal is to live in balance with nature and provide clean water, air, soil resources for the next generation.
We cannot achieve our goal alone. Whether you are an individual, commercial business, an NGO, or governmental institution, you are welcome to join our mission.
Life begins with you. Join our mission today.
Ethno Village
LASD Studio | Reykjavik