Joan Radditz, ASLA

Landscape Architect, California license #3102

As a Landscape Architect I enjoy the artistic expression of designing landscapes. I specialize in the design of fine residential and commercial projects. The scale of projects I have completed vary from campus master planning for the Pacifica Graduate Institute to the award winning Rusetos' residence, an English Cottage garden. I feel my work emphasizes the use of varied plant materials featuring their distinct color, texture, form and seasonal display in complementing my client’s preferences.

My education in horticulture has been an asset to my landscape architecture firm. I have utilized my strong plant knowledge for designs incorporating drought tolerant California native plants as well as exotic plants. I have enhanced my knowledge of California native plants and California plant communities through classes at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. I am also familiar with the many exotic plants, which can be grown successfully in California's Mediterranean and temperate climates.

With a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a program which emphasizes large scale planning, I have a strong background in master planning and park design. While working for the County of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department I designed various sized parks, and while consulting for the Irvine Company I prepared land use guidelines and landscape design alternatives for a 2,700 acre undeveloped parcel in Irvine, California.

Civic volunteerism has been an important part of my Landscape Architecture career. As a member of the City of Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review I reviewed projects as part of the process for city approval. Utilizing my landscape knowledge, I donated my design services to design the landscape and planting plan for the Montecito YMCA. In recognition, the Junior League of Santa Barbara awarded me with the League Rose for volunteering my design services.

I have found teaching to be a very rewarding experience and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of landscape design and architectural rendering to students at Santa Barbara City College. Through these classes, creative as well as functional design approaches are explored with the students in the field of Landscape Architecture.

In conclusion, since establishing my firm in Santa Barbara, I have worked on a variety of landscape architecture projects. I am especially interested in the design of private gardens and commercial landscape projects and will continue to design interesting and challenging landscape architectural designs.