Projects
GARDEN OF DELIGHTThis project sits on the hills of Incline Village. Our challenge was to enhance the existing natural topography interspersed with gorgeous boulders, while creating outdoor living rooms with specific identities and using only locally appropriate materials. Very important was also to create a natural connection from the house to the various spaces. An existing water feature was improved with riparian and horticulturally appropriate surroundings.
I Wear your ringFrom the outset, we set out to create a design which transformed a considerably large and unusable outdoor space into a very comfortable series of outdoor rooms, including a lounging and dining area complete with a firepit, offering the clients the opportunity to live their ideal indoor/outdoor lifestyle.
Winged WaterThis topographically and geologically interesting site gave us the opportunity to accentuate its dramatic aspect. By re-positioning existing large andesite boulders, we set forth to create a water feature, which attracts a variety of fauna.
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see into the treesThe primary goal for this design is to blur the edges between the natural and the built landscape while establishing a deep connection to the land. This location sits at the edge of a natural forest, where tree and lake views can be ‘borrowed’ for miles. The slope was a perfect candidate for a water feature cascading into a pond. A meandering path leads to a new seating area from which one can view both the natural looking water feature and Lake Tahoe.
Filigree & ShadowsExisting towering Jeffrey Pines created the ideal backdrop for an understory landscape flooded by filtered light, which creates ever-changing shadows. A mix of mostly shade-loving perennials, shrubs, and small trees allows the space to find its human scale dimension.
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REVIEWS
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Pratolino Landscape Design was extremely helpful through out our projects. As we are newer to the Tahoe area we had little knowledge of what plants would survive up here. Gianfranco did an excellent job helping us learn about native plants/trees, along with others that could be options for our space. He was also very sensitive to our budget, and helped us stay well within these parameters. |
Gianfranco's vision has transformed our yard into a retreat, a dining room, and a gathering place, all in one, frankly, stunning design. We were delighted at how informed and articulate he was about all of the infrastructure that underlies our beautiful garden. Gianfranco's design eye incorporated all of the things we talked about with him and he made them better than we could have imagined. |
Process
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Each project is unique and inherent to the environment and personality of the client. We only use locally-appropriate materials. Repeated visits to the site and careful site analysis and understanding of the client’s connection to their land is crucial to the ultimate success of each project. Most importantly, we don’t force a space to become something is not. Instead by careful observation and collaboration with the client we help the space become what it wants to be
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