Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
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Despite decades of experience, all three principals agree they are ongoing students of their profession, and their successes don't come from any formulaic approach. "You have to kind of go in wide-eyed at any project. Day one, the first thing you do is find out about the culture, people, and what grows, obviously," says Baldwin. "We've been told, I think we've been told that we don't necessarily have a design style. It doesn't sound good, but I think it's cool, too, because really it's your client and site that kind of tells you what it has to be more than we can dictate, most of the time." From the diverse array of projects to Burton Studio's credit, their bespoke approach is only logical. For example, Pendry Newport Beach, which debuted in September and is among the most recent projects in Burton's portfolio, is inherently different from the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora or Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar or San Diego's Rady Shell at Jacobs Park — all Burton-designed. "ere's always an underlying story and that's where everything starts, and that story obviously changes between Bora Bora, or the Middle East, or here, so that really starts to inform the design, and the process, and everything," says Uyeda. "So, I think that taking a typical 'Burton' story and applying that in all these different locales doesn't work." However, one thread that's consistent throughout Burton's body of work is also, at least in part, influenced by its Southern California home base. Working and living in Solana Beach, says MacLeod, gives the team a unique perspective on sustainability as it relates to climate change, including important issues like water use and conservation. "We live it every day here, so we can take those lessons all over the globe," he says. Adds Baldwin, "Now it's become more and more common, but it's always just been second nature to us." burton-studio.com Solana Beach landscape architecture firm creates stunning spaces around the globe BY DEANNA MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT KNAKAL @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2023 111 THE RADY SHELL: PHOTO COURTESY OF BURTON STUDIO The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park