Modern Garden Design in Chula Vista, San Diego — Simplicity as Sophistication

“A contemporary backyard retreat inspired by modernist principles of clarity, functionality, and elegance.”

Contemporary Concrete Artwork

Contemporary front yard with concrete and stone paving in Chula Vista modernist backyard

Modern Chula Vista backyard garden

Modern Chula Vista backyard garden with pool, patio, and minimalist drought-tolerant planting

Modern Garden

Chula Vista modern garden with pool and patio

Modern Patio Design

Modernist patio design Chula Vista

The Origins of Modernist Landscape Architecture

Modernist garden design emerged in the early 20th century alongside modernist art and architecture. Pioneers such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright championed simplicity, functionality, and a rejection of ornamentation. In landscape design, this translated into clean geometry, minimal material palettes, and functional outdoor rooms — spaces shaped for living, not decoration.

Simplicity as a Key Element

The heart of modern garden design lies in removing excess and allowing essential elements to define the experience. Straight lines, uncluttered patios, and geometric pools create a calm, structured setting. This simplicity highlights the beauty of materials, planting textures, and architectural form, resulting in spaces that are both efficient and deeply inviting.

Detailed Hardscape Plan

Detailed hardscape plan of Chula Vista residence with concrete slab patios, fire pit, steps, fences, and grading notes.

Conceptual Landscape Design Plan

Conceptual landscape design plan for Chula Vista residence showing lounge, dining area, vegetable garden, privacy planting, and California native planting areas.

Patio Cover Specifications

Patio cover design for Chula Vista residence showing lightweight cover specifications, anchor and footing details, post and beam connections, and construction notes.

Pergola Structure Specifications

Freestanding pergola structure plan with 3D perspective, section drawings, anchor and footing details, and connection details for Chula Vista modern garden.

Hardscape Plan

Hardscape plan for Chula Vista modern garden showing paving layout, grading notes, retaining walls, drainage, and terrace design.

Planting Plan with Plant Legend

Planting plan for Chula Vista modern garden showing Citrus, Olive, Agave, sages, ornamental grasses, and shrubs with full plant legend and quantities.

Patios: A Modernist Oasis

In this project, the patio becomes the seamless extension of indoor living. Paved with stone and concrete in clean lines, and framed with minimalist built-in seating, it flows effortlessly from house to garden. Designed for relaxation and gatherings, the patio represents modern garden design at its core — simple, open, and functional.

Spaces in Simple Architecture

The garden extends beyond the pool and patio into a network of functional outdoor rooms: a fire pit lounge for evenings, a space for outdoor cooking, and contemplative corners inspired by zen gardens. Each area is carefully proportioned, balancing comfort with modernist clarity.

EXISTING CONDITION

Existing Condition

When LASD Studio began, the site was defined by underused lawn and disorganized planting. By reshaping the layout with strong geometry, drought-tolerant planting, and refined hardscape, the property has been transformed into a modernist retreat that reflects both the client’s lifestyle and San Diego’s climate.

The Influence of Modernist Garden Design on LASD Studio

Modernist principles strongly influence LASD Studio’s philosophy. Every project is a dialogue between architecture, ecology, and human life. In Chula Vista, these principles guided the creation of a garden that feels timeless and functional, contemporary and ecological — proving once more that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

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Traditional Garden in Kattrup, Denmark

“Timeless Heritage and Danish Craftsmanship in Garden Design”

This project reflects the spirit of traditional Danish garden design, created for a historic estate in Kattrup. Rooted in European garden traditions yet adapted to the unique landscape of Denmark, the design emphasizes symmetry, craftsmanship, and lasting ecological value. Every element — from stone details to drainage solutions — was carefully crafted for generations to come.

Designed by two outstanding landscape architects – Gregory Brian Kobett and Yura Lotonenko in 2016, Denmark.

LASD Studio’s Traditional Garden in Kattrup highlights heritage-driven design with precise detailing, timeless planting, and ecological resilience.

Project Description

The Kattrup Traditional Garden celebrates the artistry and precision of classical design while ensuring resilience in Northern Europe’s climate. Inspired by historic precedents, the garden blends structural order with horticultural richness, resulting in a space that feels both timeless and alive.

Symmetry and Structure

Pathways, parterres, and hedges define a sense of permanence and balance, echoing centuries of European tradition.

Craftsmanship

Every detail, from the hand-laid brickwork to millimeter-precise drainage holes, reflects a dedication to durability and heritage-level quality.

Planting Design

Seasonal flowers, fruit trees, and clipped hedges bring rhythm and color, while native plant choices support the Danish ecosystem.

Cultural Continuity

This garden embodies the values of Danish landscape tradition: beauty, function, and respect for nature’s cycles.

The result is not just a garden, but a living cultural landscape designed to endure across generations — a sanctuary where tradition, ecology, and design meet in harmony.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

Master Site Plan – Orangery & Garden Layout

Technical master plan showing the overall layout of the orangery, traditional garden, pergolas, and hardscape zones, designed with heritage precision for long-term resilience.

Detailed Pergola Construction Drawing

Precision construction plan illustrating pergola dimensions, joinery, and material specifications for long-lasting craftsmanship.

Garden Axis & Pathway Design Plan

Technical plan of circulation routes, garden pathways, and axial alignments reinforcing traditional European garden design principles.

Orangery Glasshouse Elevation & Facade Details

Technical elevation of the newly designed orangery, highlighting custom facades, glazing proportions, and structural details for centuries-long durability.

Hardscape Foundation & Structural Detailing

Detailed drawing of hardscape and foundation elements, ensuring stability, drainage, and timeless integration into the heritage garden.

Roof & Sectional Drawings of Orangery

Roof plan and cross-sections of the orangery showing HVAC integration, glazing systems, and architectural detailing.

Custom Joinery & Assembly Diagrams

Technical diagrams detailing the custom wood and metal joinery for pergolas, gates, and garden structures.

Planting Plan with Botanical Notations

Heritage-informed planting plan showing tree placement, perennial borders, and seasonal species selected for biodiversity and timeless beauty.

Material & Detail Specifications Sheet

Technical specifications for garden materials, including masonry, timber, and ornamental metalwork, ensuring historic accuracy and ecological resilience.

Structural Elevations & Longitudinal Sections

Elevation and section views of the orangery structure, capturing proportion, symmetry, and sustainable detailing for multi-generational use.

Baroque gardens were intended to illustrate the mastery of man power over nature.

Visit our special project series - Styles and Epochs of Art that Influences Landscape Architecture.

EXISTING CONDITION BEFORE LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION

Existing Condition - before landscape installation

This project designed and built to last for generations.

WORK IN PROGRESS & SUPERVISION

Before Construction – Lawn Area

View of the garden site before construction, with the old lawn ready to be transformed into a traditional Danish garden with walls and an orangery.
DA: Udsigt over haven før byggearbejdet, hvor det gamle græsareal skal omdannes til en traditionel dansk have med mure og orangeri.

Excavation of Terrain - Udgravning af terræn

Excavation and leveling of the terrain in preparation for foundations, pathways, and garden structures.
DA: Gravning og nivellering af terrænet som forberedelse til fundamenter, stier og haveelementer.

Pathway Preparation - Forberedelse af stier

Setting out garden pathways and ground lines to establish the classical symmetry and structure.
DA: Etablering af stier og terrænlinjer, der danner grundlaget for havens symmetri og struktur.

Brick Wall Construction - Opbygning af murværk

Craftsmen laying traditional Danish red bricks on granite foundations in timeless building style.
DA: Håndværkere lægger traditionelle danske teglsten på granitfundament, i klassisk byggestil.

Stone Foundation and Brick Wall - Stenfundament og teglmur

Combined fieldstone foundation and brick wall construction, designed to last for generations.
DA: Kombineret kampestensfundament og teglmur, konstrueret til at stå i generationer.

Garden Wall Building Process - Byggearbejde på mur og fundament

Ongoing construction of garden walls, defining enclosed spaces and classical order.
DA: Opbygning af havens murværk, som skaber rumlighed og definerer den klassiske struktur.

Orangery Foundation - Fundament til orangeri

Foundation detail for the new orangery with carefully executed concrete work.
DA: Detalje af fundamentet til det nye orangeri, med præcist udførte betonelementer.

Orangery Construction – First Phase - Opførelse af orangeri – første fase

Early stages of constructing the glass orangery, a central architectural feature of the garden.
DA: Begyndende konstruktion af glasorangeriet, der bliver et centralt element i haven.

Orangery Steel Structure - Opførelse af orangeri – stålkonstruktion

Steel framework of the orangery under construction, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering.
DA: Stålkonstruktionen til orangeriet rejst, der kombinerer traditionelt håndværk og moderne byggeteknik.

Pathway Alignment

Garden pathways being measured and aligned, setting the framework for the traditional layout.
DA: Havestier måles og afsættes, hvilket danner grundlaget for den traditionelle haveplan.

Foundation Preparation

Early preparation of foundations for the orangery and surrounding garden structures.
DA: Forberedelse af fundamenter til orangeriet og de omgivende haveelementer.

Orangery Steel Frame

The steel frame of the orangery rises, marking the transition from groundworks to vertical construction.
DA: Orangeriets stålkonstruktion rejser sig og markerer overgangen fra jordarbejde til vertikal bygning.

Steel Vents on Site

Steel beams delivered and staged on-site, ready for assembly in the orangery framework.
DA: Ståldrager leveret og placeret på byggepladsen, klar til montering i orangeriets konstruktion.

Interior Orangery Build

Inside view of the orangery under construction, showing framework and flooring works.
DA: Indvendigt kig i orangeriet under opbygning, med synlig stålkonstruktion og gulvarbejde.

Herringbone Brick Floor

Traditional herringbone brick flooring being laid inside the orangery for timeless durability.
DA: Klassisk sildebensmønster i murstensgulv lægges i orangeriet for varig holdbarhed.

Garden Wall Progress

Continued progress on brick and stone walls, creating a defined boundary for the garden.
DA: Fortsat arbejde med murstens- og kampestensmure, som skaber en tydelig afgrænsning af haven.

Planting Phase

First phase of planting trees and shrubs around the orangery to establish the new garden structure.
DA: Første fase med plantning af træer og buske omkring orangeriet for at etablere havens nye struktur.

Planting Plan in Progress

Planting plan in progress at the Traditional Danish Garden, preparing pollinator-friendly beds to support biodiversity.
DA: Plantningsplan under udførelse i den traditionelle danske have, med forberedelse af blomsterbede der tiltrækker bestøvere og understøtter biodiversitet.

ORANGERY, ORCHARD, POLLINATOR GARDEN DESIGN IN DENMARK

Pathway to Orangery – Kattrup Garden

Description (English): A formal pathway leads toward the newly built orangery, framed by young orchard trees and precise hedgerows.
Beskrivelse (Dansk): En formel sti fører mod det nyopførte orangeri, flankeret af unge frugttræer og præcise hække.

Orangery Entrance – Traditional Garden in Kattrup

The newly built orangery at Kattrup Estate features custom facades, handcrafted tiles, and integrated HVAC design. Surrounded by heritage-inspired planting and pathways, it reflects LASD Studio’s precision in combining tradition with modern sustainability.
Det nyopførte orangeri på Kattrup Gods har specialfremstillede facader, håndlavede fliser og integreret HVAC-design. Omgivet af beplantning og stier inspireret af kulturarv afspejler det LASD Studios præcision i at kombinere tradition med moderne bæredygtighed.

Heritage Pergola Structure – Kattrup Estate

A custom-built pergola structure in the Kattrup garden frames the walking paths with timeless geometry. Designed to support climbing plants, it enhances biodiversity while echoing traditional European garden craftsmanship.
Beskrivelse (Dansk):
En specialbygget pergola-struktur i haven på Kattrup rammer stierne ind med tidløs geometri. Designet til at bære klatreplanter fremmer det biodiversitet og viderefører samtidig traditionelt europæisk havehåndværk.

Orangery Entrance – Interior Perspective

Description (English): Inside the orangery, carefully crafted wooden doors and tiled flooring create a timeless interior, blending tradition with comfort.
Beskrivelse (Dansk): Inde i orangeriet skaber nøje udformede trædøre og flisegulv et tidløst interiør, hvor tradition møder komfort.

Winter Garden View – Misty Landscape

Description (English): A misty view across the orchard and pergola shows the garden’s structure through seasonal changes.
Beskrivelse (Dansk): En tåget udsigt over frugthaven og pergolaen fremhæver havens struktur gennem årstidernes skiften.

Formal Pruned Trees – Winter Silhouette

Description (English): Pollarded trees stand in formal rows, reflecting traditional European orchard design and heritage gardening methods.
Beskrivelse (Dansk): Stævningsbeskårne træer står i formelle rækker, som afspejler traditionelt europæisk frugthavedesign og kulturarvsmetoder.

Pergola and Pathway – Structured Planting

Description (English): The pergola structure aligns with the gravel pathways, emphasizing heritage-driven order and biodiversity planting schemes.
Beskrivelse (Dansk): Pergola-strukturen er afstemt med grusstierne og fremhæver kulturarvsinspireret orden og beplantningsplaner for biodiversitet.

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