Arterra Landscape Architects

Arterra is a full-service landscape architecture firm specializing in contemporary, sustainable design. We collaborate with our clients and their design team, providing imaginative solutions and clear communication. The Arterra Team is a diverse and slightly quirky group of creative and nerdy individuals. We are dedicated to the art and the craft of our profession.  We […]

The George Mark Children’s House was the first standalone pediatric palliative care center in the United States. Their work supports the unique needs of children with terminal illnesses and their families, including palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care. The landscape architects were approached by the founder of the center to turn 1.3 underutilized acres into a […]

The comprehensive master plan addressed the challenge of respecting the original garden design intent with a redesign modeled on a more sustainable metric. Like the remodel of the architecture, the existing elements that were healthy and held true to the low-impact vision remained: a large redwood, an established pepper tree and drought tolerant property-line hedges. […]

The clients had been living on a sloping two-acre site for over 20 years and felt their traditional stucco home, enclosed by a tall solid wall, cut them off from the full extent of the site and bay views. They approached the design team with a request to create a new energy and water-conscious home […]

The mission of the George Mark Children’s House is to help families navigate end-of-life care for their children. The first standalone pediatric palliative care center in the U.S., GMCH focuses on quality of life and continuity of care for children with incurable illnesses or chronic medical conditions. Relieved from the stress of medical costs (which […]

A couple who grew up in Woodside and Aspen and spent their childhoods hiking and fishing sought a return to nature after seeing their children off to college. They purchased 80 acres in the 18,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve, which extends from sea level to  the Santa Lucia Mountains. With coastal chaparral, grasslands, oak savannah, redwood […]

The clients had been living on a sloping two-acre site for over 20 years and were ready for a new chapter. Their desire was to re-envision the way they lived on the land and felt their traditional stucco home enclosed by a tall solid wall cut them off from the full extent of the site […]

The long narrow lot had direct views into the neighborhood. Working with the architects it was clear a change its orientation was needed to not only create privacy but also capture the distant views west to Mt Tamalpais. The 30 feet of elevation change was a major consideration to contend with. As with any constraint, […]

A level property in Woodside graced by live oaks and gently sloping treed hillsides was the site of a nearly finished contemporary house when it was purchased by the clients. An enthusiastic gardener and a professionally trained chef with young children, they dreamt of a home where they could grow, harvest, and prepare food for […]

Taronga’s design is driven by context. The site lies within an oak woodland on a high ridgeline in the 18,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel Valley. The ecologically minded private community encompasses coastal chaparral, grasslands, oak savannah, redwood forests, and robust wildlife populations. The project’s dramatic views, established trees and challenging topography required a thoughtful […]

Slot House brings bold minimalism to the rolling landscape of Los Altos Hills, a semi-rural suburban enclave in California’s Bay Area. The integrated design of the architecture and landscape were shaped by the client’s appreciation for modern design and keen attention to its oak woodlands context. A minimalist landscape palette complements the strong lines of […]