Community Projects

Hakone Gardens, City of Saratoga

Design for accessibility with special attention to retaining authenticity of traditional Japanese garden design. Project includes increase of accessibility through creative design solutions, grading, special attention to materials used and existing uses of specialized areas. The existing antique entry gates were raised, and a new granite temple style entry stairway designed at the main entry allowed grading to accommodate an alternative handicap entry while leveling gathering areas for enhanced usability. Japanese planting design for new areas was also incorporated to tie with existing garden areas. Project required gaining consensus with many different groups including design advisors in Kyoto Japan. Shortly after completion of the project Hakone was made part of the National Trust.

Hakone Gardens

Hidden Villa – Hidden Villa Gardens and Green Educational Center

Design and construction for a private foundation on 1600 acres. Landscape Architects for redesign of Villa gardens including grading, drainage, masonry, planting, irrigation and lighting. Also responsible for redesign and refurbishment of 1920s ponds. Design of student camping facility and green house area. The Master Plan included landscape architecture for sustainably built educational center including design for community garden and pavilion, parking, swim center, equestrian facilities and signage.

Hidden Villa Gardens

Saratoga Community Children’s Garden

​Design and construction for preschool age garden and play areas. Elements include bike circuit, play equipment, decking activity area, story area, integration of animals, and children’s garden.

Saratoga Community Children's Garden

Monopoly Project

Designed and installed The Monopoly Garden at the San Francisco Landscape Garden Show. Winners of 6 Awards including Best of Show. Project included a life sized granite monopoly board which was later purchased by the city of San Jose and installed at the San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum grounds to be a permanent resource for public and non profit fund raising through game play.

Monopoly

Permaculture Retreat Center

Responsible for design, layout, and installation of 125 acre hillside mountain property. Features of the design and construction include a biological rainwater capture system with seven large ponds (150,000 gallons) and waterfalls connecting them. The water catchment ponds are powered solely by on-site solar panels. The planting includes a terraced vegetable and cut flower garden with a 40’ waterfall and bridge crossings. Other elements include sacred space designs, dry stone walls, grading, drainage, irrigation, hardscape, orchards, a vineyard and habitat
restoration.

The Sisters Project in Fremont
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The Sisters Project in Fremont is located across the street from Mission San Jose and has been owned by the Catholic Church since the mission’s inception. This is a project with deep historic roots and was an honor to be a part of. There are many different aspects to the Sisters project including helping to restore the historic ponds and preserve the existing park filled with a wide variety of mature trees including a 300 yr old cypress the Padres planted. 

We worked with Robson Homes to develop the site plan relocating the 80 sisters currently living on the property to 3 new cottages. For the sisters we designed all the hardscape and handicapped access, bioswales that are now attracting birds and butterflies, garden design and installation oversee which included many plants of the bible, Mary garden plants, edibles and roses.

We were also responsible to design and oversee new landscaping for the two historic homes - Best  and Star which were originally built for the two daughters of the founder of Catapiler tractor company. 

In addition to all of the above we worked on site planing and grading for 82 new homes as well as all the hardscape and landscape design. One of the fun aspects to this project was also designing the project park which enjoys many family visitors now.

"Rebecca Dye, a principal of Design Focus International, designed organic shapes and chose a plant palette in keeping with the historic period of the garden to make the landscape harmonious and authentic. Agapanthus hedges, Kerria japonica, spirea, roses, and Magnolia soulangiana create a transition from the garden and traditional Tudor-style homes of the historic core to the newly constructed homes. Sister Gladys was “exhilarated” when the project received approval and entitlement at the City Council meeting. In 2018, the Sisters were able to move into their new quarters. Many of them now take the “lemon walk” path to the garden for a daily stroll." - Garden Conservancy News​

Kima Corporate Headquarters

​Design for four acre Corporate Headquarters including sighting the building, layout of parking and roads, grading and drainage, hardscape design, Courtyard Garden with multiple level Moorish Pond, plant material design including the incorporation of edible landscape and Employee Vegetable Garden.

CTC Preschool Play Area for the City of Palo Alto

We love creating play spaces for children. We designed this play area for the CTC Preschool in Palo Alto. For tips on designing play spaces please check out these videos.

Hale Creek Restoration

Completed design for restoration of urban stream and coordination of project through various government agencies. Work included site inventory and analysis, survey, development of erosion mitigation measures with a system of check dams, wattling, appropriate irrigation and planting with native plants. Also developed public access to creek area.

Hale Creek Restoration Plans

Children’s Garden, Ukraine

Design and on-going implementation coordination for an urban children’s garden focusing on ages 0-5. The project will serve many handicapped orphaned children who have never played outside. The design of the project provides stimulating imaginative play spaces for all children. Design elements include sand play, nature discovery, wild gardens and edible planting as well as performance space, outdoor art and sculpture. Rebecca has worked with occupational therapists to provide activities that encourage brain development and motor coordination.Community Garden, Canada

Design for Squamish community garden integrating use areas, gathering spaces, private garden spaces and gardens for the homeless. Project includes medicinal garden, butterfly garden and children’s garden. The community garden is to expand five acres over the next five years.

Children's Garden Ukraine Orphanage

Fremont Convention Center 

The Fremont Convention Center is a special project because it will be host to a wide range of events including the capacity to hold weddings up to 500 people. Because of this special use the landscaping and outdoor event spaces are of particular importance. There will be a large outdoor courtyard with massive waterfalls and a creek running throughout the space. Lush foliage and flowering plants will surround the waterway and the guest seating areas and stages. There will also be a roof top garden deck for weddings and other events with a spectacular  view and planting through out. For this project we worked on site planning, master planning, hardscape design, grading and drainage, planting and lighting and irrigation coordination.