EPISODE 260: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & LUXURY POOL DESIGN/BUILD IN AUSTIN, TX WITH BRITTANY DUNCAN OF DESIGN ECOLOGY
Greg and Justin sit with Brittany Duncan, an associate landscape architect at Design Ecology, who shares her experiences and insights in the world of landscape architecture.
Brittany’s travels have seen her heading to Lake Mead with the National Park Service, as well as to China, England, and Germany. These experiences have given her a unique ability to blend diverse influences into her work, which she describes as thinking about spaces as a whole, or spatial rather than simple plant design.
One of the key aspects of Brittany's work is her emphasis on understanding the context of a project, from the site itself to soil content. She talks about the challenges that can arise when designing a project without having physical access to the site.
Brittany also shares her experiences designing custom pool projects and creating Austin-themed backyard pools. She takes care not to be married to a particular style and likes using unique materials and finishes to infuse personality into her projects. She also discusses her sources of inspiration and how she catalogs her ideas for future designs, and about the challenges and rewards of working on small-scale projects.
Asked about how she chooses flora in her designs, Brittany shares her preference for plants like agaves, native grasses, and cacti that grow well in Austin. She also expresses her preference for materials that have a handcrafted feel and do not look too highly manufactured.
Ultimately, Brittany tells us that a successful landscape architect should strive to create designs that are in harmony with the existing conditions of the site and the house.
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Topics Discussed:
03:45: About Brittany Duncan
05:51: Brittanys role at Design Ecology
07:56: About landscape architecture and what separates it from other landscape design roles
08:57: What are some things you take into consideration when you're designing a project?
15:43: Working with high-end clients in Austin
20:01: Juggling multiple projects at the same time
20:57: Waiting 1 year before taking photos
26:06: Where Brittany finds design inspiration
27:44: Keeping track of inspiration
30:29: Sourcing hard to find materials found online
35:32: Communicating design vision to the client
38:26: Favorite size projects and why
40:26: Brittany’s most rewarding project
42:56: When designing a backyard with a pool, what are you expected to know in terms of design?
45:58: The importance of understanding plumbing and hydraulics
50:36: What’s on the design plans
52:09: Project turnaround time
55:25: “Austin-style” backyard & pool
01:05:08: Plants and materials Brittany most enjoys working with
01:07:37: Is there a detail or something that repeats in every design you do?
01:10:56: How many projects working on at once?
1:09:59: How Brittany is matched with clients
01:12:05: Do you have a detail that you've designed that you haven't built yet or something that isn't out yet?
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Key Quotes by Brittany Duncan:
It made me a better designer to work at a fast pace, to have my hand in all the pieces, because it gave me a greater appreciation for the construction process.
Landscape architects are trained to think of space as a whole. They’re more spatial designers than plant designers.
I never want to design something that looks like it doesn’t belong. My goal is to design something very functional but aesthetically beautiful that looks like it has always been there, and works in harmony with the site and the house.
People & Resources Mentioned: