FORGROUND is a landscape design practice rooted in Berkeley, California. We create landscapes for grounding— places where our everyday lives connect with flora, fauna, and fresh air.

Our home landscapes are our habitats. They ground us, support our daily habits, and enhance our lives. Grounding landscapes create endless opportunities to enjoy, learn, and be inspired. They express each season while offering inviting spaces to spend time outdoors all year round.

We work collaboratively with clients, contractors, and gardeners to cultivate delightful, resilient landscapes that grow with you over time. We select plants that are well-adapted to local conditions, requiring fewer resources while providing vital ecosystem benefits.

Services

We are open to projects of many shapes and sizes.

Consultation
Planting Plans
Landscape Design

Specialties

Native Plants
Edible Landscaping
Site Analysis
Space & Furniture Design
Landscape Construction
Grading & Drainage
Soils
Drawing, Drafting, 3D Modeling and Visualization

Affiliations

Association of Professional Landscape Designers

Merritt College Landscape Horticulture

QWEL Certified Water Efficient Landscaper
CALWEP-6247

Process

Consultation

Understanding your goals and preferences, defining project scope, and talking through opportunities and challenges

Planting Design

Developing plant palettes and refining planting plans by considering plant needs and botanical communities, plant massing and heights, texture and color, maintenance and growth over time

Analysis

Evaluating the space and studying site conditions, including climate and exposure, topography and soil, water and drainage, existing vegetation, built elements, views, and circulation

Design Development

Refining a preliminary landscape plan, considering special features, specifying materials, and communicating with collaborators such as contractors or engineers

Concept

Articulating core ideas and approach, program development, spatial adjacencies, character, and layout alternatives

Implementation

Providing comprehensive documentation, procuring plants and materials, coordinating project handoff and installation

View fullsize Sora (the big red dog) knows a good landscape when she sees one. John Henkel park is one of our favorite places to enjoy California native plants. Here, we get to see the silvery blues of Wild Rye next to the reliably classy greens and golds of deerg
View fullsize [archive] I love the process of prototyping ideas and experimenting in three dimensions. These prototypes were made by One Hat One Hand for a social furniture project I worked on with @ghigoditommaso at @gehlpeople. See photos the project in previous
View fullsize [archive] The Porch Swings at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia invite people to get comfortable and stay a while whether waiting for a train, meeting with friends, or just relaxing while the world goes by. I worked on this social furniture project
View fullsize [archive] This front porch bench was a prototype I designed with @ghigoditommaso while working at @gehlpeople. The benches now hang in front of 30th St Station in Philadelphia — see photos in the next post!
View fullsize [field notes] California native plants found on today’s neighborhood walk. — Marin Ave. and Ohlone Greenway #californianativeplants #muhlenbergiarigens #epilobiumcanum #eriogonumfasciculatum #cercisoccidentalis #arctostaphylos #achillea
View fullsize [field notes] Buckwheat and friends showing off in August at the corner of Gilman and the Ohlone Greenway. — #californianativeplants #eriogonum #salviaapiana #sphaeralceaambigua #atriplex #epilobiumcanum #arctostaphylos
View fullsize [site visit] Visit to Oakland hills project this morning, where clients will soon pick fruit on their way to the hot tub. 1) where we are now 2) where we came from 3) where we are going
View fullsize …when a landscape designer works on a backyard studio shed. — This year we worked with our contractor, Christian Curbo, and Sara Dean of @ifthenstudio to build a 120 sqft space with many purposes including FORGROUND headquarters.
View fullsize …when a landscape designer works on a backyard studio shed. — This year we worked with our contractor Christian Curbo, and Sara Dean of @ifthenstudio to build a 120 sqft space with many purposes including FORGROUND headquarters.
View fullsize [archive] Sketches for an academic landscape design project with Chris Grampp at Merritt College. — Landscape design for Jamie, Anneli, and Hachiko the dog in Alameda, California. This garden cultivates life of all kinds—offering herbs an
View fullsize [archive] Section drawings for an academic landscape design project with Chris Grampp at Merritt College. — Landscape design for Jamie, Anneli, and Hachiko the dog in Alameda, California. This garden cultivates life of all kinds—offering
View fullsize [archive] Plan drawings for an academic landscape design project with Chris Grampp at Merritt College. — Landscape design for Jamie, Anneli, and Hachiko the dog in Alameda, California. This garden cultivates life of all kinds—offering her
View fullsize [field notes] What a lovely display of California native plants we found at Aquatic Park! Plants include coffeeberry, deer grass, California fuchsia, clarkia, sicky monkey-flower, and toyon. — Aquatic Park, Berkeley
View fullsize [field notes] Lots of beautiful native trees to see at Aquatic Park including Catalina Ironwood, California Sycamore, Torrey Pine, Western Redbud, Tanbark-Oak, California Buckeye, and Coast Live Oak. These trees are well-adapted and provide habitat
View fullsize [archive] Planting design studies for color, texture, and height #landscapedesign #merrittcollege
View fullsize [archive] Axonometric sketch for an academic project at Merritt College with Chris Gramp. This botanical exhibit at Oakland Zoo features a dry creek, native plants, and adventurous path through it all. #landscapedesign #merrittcollege @chris_grampp
View fullsize [archive] Preliminary landscape plan for an academic project at the Oakland Zoo, featuring a dry creek, native plants, and adventurous path through it all. #landscapedesign #merrittcollege
View fullsize [archive] Section drawings for an academic project at Merritt College with Chris Gramp. This botanical exhibit at Oakland Zoo features a dry creek, native plants, and adventurous path through it all. #landscapedesign #merrittcollege @chris_grampp
View fullsize [sketchbook] My design process often starts with imaging a range of experiences that might unfold across the landscape. —— These sketches kicked off an academic project at the Oakland Zoo, featuring a dry creek, native plants, and adventu
View fullsize [garden log] summer edibles — North Berkeley

@forground_landscape
Projects page coming soon

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