2026 Elemental Design Group, Inc.
Landscape Architect & Designer Serving Santa Clara
Landscape Design & Build from Silicon Valley Estates to Foothill Retreats
Santa Clara County is a landscape of remarkable contrasts. From the established residential neighborhoods and contemporary gardens of Cupertino and West San Jose, to the oak-studded hillside estates of Saratoga, Monte Sereno, and Los Gatos, to the expansive rural properties of Morgan Hill and the refined, view-oriented parcels of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. This is a county where no two properties are alike, and where great landscape design demands genuine local knowledge.
Elemental Design Group is a licensed, award-winning landscape architecture firm led by Rhadiante Van de Voorde, ASLA, a landscape architect with over three decades of experience. Our team provides full-service landscape architecture and design for discerning homeowners throughout Santa Clara County including Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Cupertino, Monte Sereno, West San Jose, and Morgan Hill.
WHAT WE DO
Landscape Architecture Design & Build Services Across Santa Clara County
Landscape Architecture & Design
Full-service planning, concept development, and architectural drawings tailored to the varied terrain and microclimates of Santa Clara County from the sprawling estate lots of Monte Sereno and Los Gatos, to the refined suburban gardens of Cupertino and West San Jose. Every design is site-specific, sustainable, and crafted to feel as if it always belonged there.
Plant Selection & Habitat-Sensitive Planting Design
Santa Clara County's landscapes span oak woodland, valley grassland, foothill chaparral, and riparian corridors along Coyote Creek and the Guadalupe River. We develop native plant palettes that are drought-tolerant, fire-aware, and ecologically appropriate for the region's hot, dry summers, while creating spaces of genuine beauty and year-round seasonal interest.
Hardscape, Stone & Custom Fabrication
From natural flagstone terraces, decomposed granite pathways, and hand-selected boulders on hillside properties in the Foothills, to clean-lined concrete, steel, and modern hardscape for Silicon Valley residences in Los Altos and Saratoga, our fabrication work is always rooted in the character of the site and the sensibility of its owners.
Hillside Grading, Retaining Walls & Drainage
The rolling terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains foothills demands serious engineering and design vision. We manage complex grading, tiered retaining wall design, hillside erosion control and stormwater management per Santa Clara County requirements, transforming challenging slopes into beautiful, usable outdoor spaces.
Pools, Spas & Water Features
From recreational resort-style pool and spa terraces on the hillside estates of Monte Sereno and Los Altos Hills, to naturalistic koi ponds, recirculating streams, and drought-conscious fountain features for valley-floor properties, we design water elements that elevate the outdoor experience and feel completely at home in their surroundings.
Contractor Selection & Project Oversight
We maintain trusted contractor relationships throughout Santa Clara County and manage every phase of installation so your project is executed exactly as designed. Our vetted local network knows the county's permitting landscape, HOA requirements, and site conditions, meaning the right people are on your property from day one.
Landscape Architecture & Design
Full-service planning, concept development, and architectural drawings tailored to the varied terrain and microclimates of Santa Clara County from the sprawling estate lots of Monte Sereno and Los Gatos, to the refined suburban gardens of Cupertino and West San Jose. Every design is site-specific, sustainable, and crafted to feel as if it always belonged there.
Plant Selection & Habitat-Sensitive Planting Design
Santa Clara County's landscapes span oak woodland, valley grassland, foothill chaparral, and riparian corridors along Coyote Creek and the Guadalupe River. We develop native plant palettes that are drought-tolerant, fire-aware, and ecologically appropriate for the region's hot, dry summers, while creating spaces of genuine beauty and year-round seasonal interest.
Hardscape, Stone & Custom Fabrication
From natural flagstone terraces, decomposed granite pathways, and hand-selected boulders on hillside properties in the Foothills, to clean-lined concrete, steel, and modern hardscape for Silicon Valley residences in Los Altos and Saratoga, our fabrication work is always rooted in the character of the site and the sensibility of its owners.
Hillside Grading, Retaining Walls & Drainage
The rolling terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains foothills demands serious engineering and design vision. We manage complex grading, tiered retaining wall design, hillside erosion control and stormwater management per Santa Clara County requirements, transforming challenging slopes into beautiful, usable outdoor spaces.
Pools, Spas & Water Features
From recreational resort-style pool and spa terraces on the hillside estates of Monte Sereno and Los Altos Hills, to naturalistic koi ponds, recirculating streams, and drought-conscious fountain features for valley-floor properties, we design water elements that elevate the outdoor experience and feel completely at home in their surroundings.
Contractor Selection & Project Oversight
We maintain trusted contractor relationships throughout Santa Clara County and manage every phase of installation so your project is executed exactly as designed. Our vetted local network knows the county's permitting landscape, HOA requirements, and site conditions, meaning the right people are on your property from day one.
OUR CREDENTIALS
CA Landscape Architect License #3944 | CA Landscape Contractor License #926561
As a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Elemental Design Group upholds the profession’s highest standards of design, sustainability, and ethical practice. Designing in Santa Clara County means understanding its full range from the tech-driven aesthetic of Silicon Valley’s estate gardens to the fire-prone oak woodlands of the Saratoga and Los Gatos foothills. For clients in Santa Clara County, that ASLA membership is a mark of confidence that you’re working with a credentialed firm recognized and accountable at a national level.
What Our Santa Clara Clients Say
Designing for Silicon Valley's Most Distinguished Landscapes
Santa Clara County occupies a rare position in California. It is one of the state’s most affluent and design-forward residential markets and one of its most ecologically rich. Oak woodland hillsides meet manicured estate gardens and the pressure to build beautifully is matched by a responsibility to build sustainably.
Elemental Design Group has worked across Santa Clara County’s most sought-after communities: Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, and beyond, designing landscapes that reflect both the natural character of the foothills and the refined sensibilities of their owners. We specialize in navigating Santa Clara Valley Water District requirements for water-efficient design and stormwater management, creating defensible and fire-safe landscapes for properties in the Wildland-Urban Interface zones of the Saratoga and Los Gatos hills, and honoring the protected valley oaks that define so many of the county’s most treasured foothill estates.
Led by Rhadiante Van de Voorde, ASLA, with over three decades of experience across California’s most complex terrain, our team understands what it takes to design in a county where the standards are high, the sites are demanding, and the results are expected to be extraordinary.
Award Winning Amenity-Filled Backyard in Saratoga, California
This Saratoga residence is a testament to what thoughtful landscape architecture can do for a property. Elemental Design Group reimagined an underutilized traditional ranch backyard into a fully realized outdoor living environment centered on a custom water fountain feature aligned with the home’s front door sightline, and extending into a brick and paver patio with firepit, outdoor kitchen, dining area, and a raised lounge deck with hot tub positioned privately off the master bedroom. Layered drought-tolerant plantings add privacy, softness, and year-round color throughout both the front and rear yards. The result earned recognition from Pool and Spa Magazine and, more importantly, gave a Saratoga family an outdoor space they use every day.
Landscape Architecture in Santa Clara County — Your Questions Answered
Yes. Elemental Design Group serves homeowners throughout Santa Clara County, including Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Los Altos, and West San Jose. Our work in the region spans hillside estate gardens in the foothills to refined residential landscapes in established valley-floor neighborhoods.
Both Saratoga and Los Gatos have specific requirements for grading, tree removal, and construction near protected oak trees. Properties in designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones also require compliance with CAL FIRE defensible space standards. We manage all permitting documentation as part of our full-service process, so clients don’t have to navigate city and county requirements on their own.
For properties in the hills above Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Los Altos Hills, many of which fall within High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, fire-safe design is a core part of our process, not an afterthought. We incorporate defensible space zones, fire-resistant plant species, non-combustible hardscape buffers near structures, and strategic vegetation spacing, all while maintaining the aesthetic quality and ecological integrity that foothill estate properties demand.
Absolutely! We consider it one of the most rewarding design challenges in the region. Santa Clara County and its cities protect native oaks under local tree ordinances, with strict requirements around grading, paving, and construction within the root zone. Our designs work with existing oak canopies as defining anchors of the landscape rather than obstacles, creating spaces that feel rooted in the land and ecologically responsible.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) promotes water-efficient landscaping through its WaterSmart Landscapes program and enforces water use restrictions during drought conditions. Our designs meet or exceed SCVWD guidelines through drought-tolerant planting palettes, high-efficiency irrigation systems, and stormwater-conscious grading while still delivering the lush, sophisticated landscapes Santa Clara County homeowners expect.
Project costs vary based on scope, site complexity, and scale. For a full-service residential project in Santa Clara County, including site analysis, concept design, construction drawings, plant selection, and contractor oversight, design fees typically range from $20,000 to $60,000+, with total project budgets (design plus installation) commonly ranging from $100,000 to $500,000+ for estate-scale properties. We provide a clear, detailed fee proposal after an initial consultation at no obligation.
Hillside properties in Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, and Los Gatos present a distinct set of challenges: complex grading, engineered retaining walls, erosion and drainage management, oak tree preservation, and WUI fire compliance. Valley-floor properties in Cupertino, Los Altos, and West San Jose typically involve maximizing outdoor living space, privacy screening, and cohesive architectural integration. Our team is experienced across both contexts and approaches each site on its own terms.
Timeline varies by project scope, but a full-service residential project from initial consultation through completed installation, typically runs 9 to 18 months. Permitting timelines in cities like Saratoga and Los Gatos, contractor scheduling, and plant availability all factor in. We set clear expectations at the outset and manage every phase so the process is as smooth as the end result.
Ready to Transform Your Santa Cruz Landscape?
From coastal gardens in Capitola to forested retreats in Boulder Creek. Let's design something extraordinary together. Contact our Boulder Creek studio to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your vision, your site, and how Elemental Design Group can bring it to life.
Talk Directly with Rhadiante
Ready to Transform Your Santa Clara County Landscape?
We bring genuine knowledge of Santa Clara County’s terrain, microclimates, fire regulations, and permitting landscape to every project we take on here. Let’s talk about what’s possible on your property.
Licensed Landscape Architect · Member ASLA · Serving California since 1992