The Little River Adaptation Action Area Plan (LRAP) is one of the first South Florida regional planning studies that works in direct collaboration with residents, stakeholders, and policymakers to create a comprehensive adaption strategy specifically addressing impacts of sea level rise and climate change in the Miami Dade-County Little River Basin and Biscayne Bay. These strategies target major municipal and ecological systems within the diverse political, social, and economic environments of three municipalities. The successful implementation of this planning process illustrates how Landscape Architects play a pivotal role in generating holistic solutions to address climate change in collaboration with other disciplines and stakeholders.

The Downtown Wellen project creates a vibrant downtown area at the heart of Wellen Park, a 20-year-old master-planned community in North Port, Florida. This new hub integrates diverse programs and uses, leveraging unique site opportunities. Featuring a designed 80-acre Grand Lake, nearly 60,000 square feet of mixed-use space, and extensive recreational facilities, it is notable for its collaborative design process and detailed implementation. The project preserves natural heritage and integrates stormwater management with recreational amenities. Downtown Wellen exemplifies innovative community design and environmental stewardship, creating a unique sense of place and serving as a model for master-planned development.

In 2016, malls across America shuttered their doors as e-commerce captivated consumers. Seritage Growth Properties recognized the opportunity to reposition these abandoned assets into lifestyle destinations. They set sights on a former Sears adjacent to the Aventura Mall with a bold vision to create a place where people want to linger. Alongside a Landscape Architect, they envisioned Esplanade at Aventura, a premier public realm and retail district unlike anything seen in South Florida. This project exemplifies resilience, facing evolving market trends, a global pandemic, and complex on-structure design. Esplanade at Aventura has set a new standard for retail repositioning efforts where the landscape is a celebrated, artistic element.

As part of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision Plan, a Landscape Architect (LA) led the open space master plan for Qiddiya City, a massive 89,000-acre development planned for 600,000 people. This forward-thinking master plan includes interconnected nature zones, active parks and public spaces, all designed with climate-responsive, net-zero principles. Working with global firms, the LA integrated environmental and social goals, emphasizing inclusivity, walkability and cultural expression. The plan protected over 65% of the land, including key watersheds and geological formations, and pioneered the use of treated sewage effluent (TSE) for landscape systems. The LA also created detailed Open Space Design Guidelines to guide future development.

Resilient Jacksonville is a 50-year roadmap to prepare Jacksonville for climate change, population growth, and urban development. The largest city by area in the continental U.S., Jacksonville faces a challenging future: its population is rapidly growing, and it faces a suite of climate-intensified risks, including flooding, heat, wind, and wildfires. Jacksonville’s vast scale makes it unique, but it also presents challenges for citywide resilience planning. To maximize its impact across the city’s diverse landscape, Resilient Jacksonville aligns specific actions with eight distinct development patterns, proposing adaptation actions that are aligned to each geography. The plan proposes 45 actions, 38 of which are in progress today.

Inspired and guided by nature, the Landscape Architect (LA) has crafted a sustainable and immersive wellness-focused resort. The biophilic design centers on the metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly, the Huichol cultural emblem of transformation. Sustainability is prioritized through regenerative planting strategies, local materials, solar energy, purified rainwater and strong community engagement. Since opening in December 2022, Naviva®, a Four Seasons Resort has earned multiple accolades, establishing itself as a model of ecological regeneration and cultural authenticity in hospitality.

The Indigo Nanjing Garden Expo Hotel transforms a former quarry atop Tangshan, China, into a harmonious blend of eco-conscious design, cultural reverence and operational ingenuity. Guided by the Landscape Architect (LA), the design integrates the site's cliffs and contours with terraces and a 4-meter buffer zone for drainage and safety. Repurposed onsite materials, like gravel for gabion walls, reduce environmental impact while blending with the landscape. Inspired by Jiangnan’s classical gardens, the LA recreated mountain and river elements, fostering harmony between humanity and nature. With 86 guest rooms, quarry-inspired features and sustainable native plantings, the project showcases the transformative power of landscape architecture.

Since its 2012 inception, Design Matters magazine has been a resource of knowledge and insights related to land planning and landscape architecture. Targeting design professionals and development organizations, the publication educates, showcases innovative project designs and promotes sustainable practices. Advancing the profession with its diverse content, global distribution and measurable impact, each issue addresses timely and relevant topics – leaving readers equipped with best practices. With the 10th Edition recently released, Design Matters remains committed to innovation, positive design and shared knowledge as a holistic contributor to professional advancement and representation of design’s influence on a better future for all.

Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Forest Playground, completed in 2023 in Miami-Dade County, redefines play by prioritizing nature. Nestled within a native hammock of live oaks and sabal palms, the playground replaces outdated structures with an immersive, nature-based experience. Curving pathways and natural materials like repurposed Australian pine logs and oolitic limestone enhance its connection to the environment. New native trees and understory plants restore and increase biodiversity, while understated play equipment emphasizes the forest’s beauty. This innovative design blurs boundaries between play and nature, inspiring environmental stewardship and offering a model for sustainable, immersive public spaces.

The Great Southern Box Company Food Hall in Orlando’s Packing District transforms a 1930s citrus crate warehouse into a dynamic community hub. The landscape architects led the urban design, creating seamless pedestrian connections and addressing grade changes with elevated amenity spaces. The Food Hall, serving as a restaurant incubator, fosters local culinary talent within the community. Design elements like the Plinth and Porch honor the site's history while offering flexible spaces for gatherings and events. The project enhances the district’s revitalization, blending modern design with historical references.

Losner Park transforms a modest 0.68-acre lot into a 3-acre green oasis that celebrates Homestead's natural heritage. By integrating over 150 plant species sourced from local nurseries, the project creates a vibrant, bio-diverse community space that supports local ecology, stimulates the regional economy, and provides a dynamic gathering place that bridges urban life with the ecological richness of South Florida's unique landscape.

The intersection of these two major corridors has served as a significant convergence point between Hillsborough and Pasco County. This installation was added to the State’s roadway landscape work program and marked a new approach to local transportation landscaping. The design team added railroad ties to the new, native plant material to pay homage to the history of the region. This feature was intended to honor the contribution that the railroad played in the development of this portion of the Tampa Bay area. In order to keep the ties visible and to bring a playful quality to the landscape, the ties were installed vertically in a sinuous pattern with graduated heights. This arrangement also creates a unifying element to the landscape.

Bella Isla Residences is a multi-family residence located on Venetian Island in Miami Beach. The site was raised 7+ feet during redevelopment to create resiliency against rising sea-levels. The 5-story building has an intensive greenroof system on the roof and over a 4-story internal parking structure. Amenities include an Everglades themed roof deck with a river water feature, a tropical lagoon pool, an infinity edge lap pool, a waterfall entry feature, and a public baywalk. The design uses locally-sourced stone and resilient tropical vegetation to restore a historic sense of place. Native, xeric canopy trees, palms, and shrubs sequester CO2 while reflective white concrete, and limestone hardscape lower ambient temperatures.

Dar Moosha transforms a plain beach front estate into a stunning 2.6-acre tropical sanctuary that masterfully blends minimalist architecture with a maximalist garden design. By carefully integrating native and tropical plants, creating artful hardscapes, and incorporating spaces for recreation like a pickleball court, the project crafts an intimate, biodiverse landscape that celebrates The Bahamas' natural beauty while reflecting the owners' artistic vision and passion for coastal living.