About Us |
Rebecca Dye & Hank Helbush
Design Philosophy
The purpose of our Design Community is to create joy, to improve the quality of life for humans and all living things and to act as facilitators in the healing of the environment and the human spirit.
Design Profile
Design Focus is a Landscape Architecture and Construction firm located in Ben Lomond, California. We are currently involved in a wide range of projects including commercial, public, and large-scale residential gardens, as well as historical renovation, habitat restoration, permaculture, and retreats. Because we are building multiple large-scale gardens concurrently we have extensive knowledge and expertise in following the design process through to completion and work regularly with a wide range of specialty contractors.
Rebecca J. Dye, Landscape Architect
Rebecca Dye is an award winning landscape architect and artist. Her vision is to create environments and experiences that enrich and inspire the human spirit. She is able to connect people to nature and beauty in such personal ways that it opens their hearts to their own relationship with nature. This opening allows them to become more loving and compassionate people and stewards of our world.
Rebecca is an expert at creating sustainable permaculture systems on a large scale, capturing and using site water, recycling site nutrients, incorporating edible food forests where appropriate, using local materials, and strengthening native habitats.
According to Barrie Coate esteemed horticulturalist of the Getty, Rebecca is the top bioswale designer in the country. Working with the subtleties of the site through conscious grading, appropriate stream hydrology and boulder placement, she incorporates a tremendous variety of plant materials and creates a biological haven for native birds, insects and amphibians while providing access for people to participate directly within these nature spaces pocketed within cities.
Rebecca has a passion for designing children’s gardens that connect children to nature and expand their creativity through abstract and imaginative play opportunities as well as providing systems for brain and motor development. Currently she is working to build a model children’s garden she designed at an orphanage in the Ukraine.
Her international work includes redesign of Hakone Gardens that required design coordination and approval from Master garden designers in Japan. Once the work was completed Hakone became the first garden in the National trust.
She is a master at estate garden design and has worked with many top CEO’s to make their personal sanctuaries stunning retreats. She has designed and overseen the construction of estate gardens as large as 50 acres.
Rebecca is currently working on 7 different large-scale residential development projects incorporating the above principles. All of the residential developments she has designed have sold out quickly even in this economy. The developers have told her that what she brings to the sites is largely responsible for the tremendous sales and that there is not a similar quality of life in other developments. Rebecca has won 2 national golden nugget awards in 2011 for urban residential site planning and landscape architecture.
Professional Registration Affiliation and Education2010-Present LEED AP, B C and D certification
2010-Present Member US Green Building Council
1987-Present Registered Landscape Architect, California
1980- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo CA, Graduate with Honors in Urban Planning, Bachelor of Arts
LA License #3763 :: Design Focus 1981 To Present
The purpose of our Design Community is to create joy, to improve the quality of life for humans and all living things and to act as facilitators in the healing of the environment and the human spirit.
Design Profile
Design Focus is a Landscape Architecture and Construction firm located in Ben Lomond, California. We are currently involved in a wide range of projects including commercial, public, and large-scale residential gardens, as well as historical renovation, habitat restoration, permaculture, and retreats. Because we are building multiple large-scale gardens concurrently we have extensive knowledge and expertise in following the design process through to completion and work regularly with a wide range of specialty contractors.
Rebecca J. Dye, Landscape Architect
Rebecca Dye is an award winning landscape architect and artist. Her vision is to create environments and experiences that enrich and inspire the human spirit. She is able to connect people to nature and beauty in such personal ways that it opens their hearts to their own relationship with nature. This opening allows them to become more loving and compassionate people and stewards of our world.
Rebecca is an expert at creating sustainable permaculture systems on a large scale, capturing and using site water, recycling site nutrients, incorporating edible food forests where appropriate, using local materials, and strengthening native habitats.
According to Barrie Coate esteemed horticulturalist of the Getty, Rebecca is the top bioswale designer in the country. Working with the subtleties of the site through conscious grading, appropriate stream hydrology and boulder placement, she incorporates a tremendous variety of plant materials and creates a biological haven for native birds, insects and amphibians while providing access for people to participate directly within these nature spaces pocketed within cities.
Rebecca has a passion for designing children’s gardens that connect children to nature and expand their creativity through abstract and imaginative play opportunities as well as providing systems for brain and motor development. Currently she is working to build a model children’s garden she designed at an orphanage in the Ukraine.
Her international work includes redesign of Hakone Gardens that required design coordination and approval from Master garden designers in Japan. Once the work was completed Hakone became the first garden in the National trust.
She is a master at estate garden design and has worked with many top CEO’s to make their personal sanctuaries stunning retreats. She has designed and overseen the construction of estate gardens as large as 50 acres.
Rebecca is currently working on 7 different large-scale residential development projects incorporating the above principles. All of the residential developments she has designed have sold out quickly even in this economy. The developers have told her that what she brings to the sites is largely responsible for the tremendous sales and that there is not a similar quality of life in other developments. Rebecca has won 2 national golden nugget awards in 2011 for urban residential site planning and landscape architecture.
Professional Registration Affiliation and Education2010-Present LEED AP, B C and D certification
2010-Present Member US Green Building Council
1987-Present Registered Landscape Architect, California
1980- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo CA, Graduate with Honors in Urban Planning, Bachelor of Arts
LA License #3763 :: Design Focus 1981 To Present
William Henry Helbush, Landscape Architect
Hank Helbush is a habitatualist and Partner in Design Focus specializing in habitat restoration and creative team management. Hank has over 25 years experience in landscape architecture and construction. His responsibilities have included design and implementation of habitat restoration, commercial, large scale residential, and permaculture retreat centers.
Hank also serves on the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation Board, San Lorenzo Valley Water District Advisory Committee, and Santa Cruz Mountain Arts Center Board of Directors.
LA License # 4081 & Contractor License #433018 :: Design Focus 1981 To Present
Hank Helbush is a habitatualist and Partner in Design Focus specializing in habitat restoration and creative team management. Hank has over 25 years experience in landscape architecture and construction. His responsibilities have included design and implementation of habitat restoration, commercial, large scale residential, and permaculture retreat centers.
Hank also serves on the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation Board, San Lorenzo Valley Water District Advisory Committee, and Santa Cruz Mountain Arts Center Board of Directors.
LA License # 4081 & Contractor License #433018 :: Design Focus 1981 To Present