Donohoe Living Landscapes

Donohoe Living Landscapes Landscape Design and Project Management

At our project Ravine House in the University Endowment Lands at UBC, the home formally owned and designed by Cornelia H...
06/02/2026

At our project Ravine House in the University Endowment Lands at UBC, the home formally owned and designed by Cornelia Hahn Oberlander has a landscape that continues to reveal new layers over time.

This spring, the historic rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom. Their bold colours tell a story of the family who lived here. We’ve heard the tale that Cornelia’s preference would have been an all-white flowering garden, but her husband, Peter Oberlander (an urban planner and architect, and founder of UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning - SCARP) preferred vibrant colour. The resulting palette became a reflection of their partnership and a lasting tribute to Peter’s influence on the home and garden. Additionally, many rhododendrons in the ravine reach three storeys in height, among the largest we have seen in Vancouver!

One of our favourite details is the stair sequence connecting the terraces. Originally built in wood and reconstructed in concrete for this renovation, the curved steps follow a quarter arc inspired by the home’s notable spiral staircase. As one set of stairs curves in one direction, the next responds in the opposite direction, creating a subtle dialogue leading the visitor through the landscape.

Documenting these plants has been an important part of the restoration process. Cornelia was highly intentional about species and subspecies selection, and creating a clear record will help preserve that legacy.

A living landscape, carrying the memory of those who shaped it.

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Architecture + Interiors:
General Contractor:
Landscape Contractor: .landscapes

It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the esteemed team at on this remarkable project in Qualicum Beach. The architec...
05/28/2026

It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the esteemed team at on this remarkable project in Qualicum Beach.

The architecture is quiet and restrained, allowing the home to settle naturally into the surrounding landscape and oceanfront setting. At the entrance, ornamental grasslands and freestanding walls, with Garry oaks and Japanese maples, create a layered arrival experience that follows the intentional berming throughout the site.

Along the rear of the home, large gallery-like windows frame expansive ocean views while bringing natural light deep into the interior throughout the year. Outdoor gathering spaces, including the fire pit and sun deck, are carefully positioned within the meadow planting to maximize views while maintaining a light touch on the landscape itself.

More to come soon on the courtyard garden at the heart of the home.
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Architecture:

The experience of a home often begins with the approach.For this Bowen Island project with , the 200-foot driveway was ...
05/22/2026

The experience of a home often begins with the approach.

For this Bowen Island project with , the 200-foot driveway was inspired by the winding carriage roads leading to traditional European chalets, designed for a slower, more gradual arrival through the landscape.

More than 800 Valdez Island sandstones, each weighing roughly 100 pounds, were individually set into dry pack mix to create a driveway that feels substantial, durable, and connected to the surrounding forest. The varied tones and textures of the stone soften the overall scale, allowing the driveway to move naturally through the contours of the site.

A long, quiet procession through the woods.
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Architecture and Interiors:
Builder:
Landscaping Contractor:
Specialty Stonework: ,
Metalwork:
Custom tsukubai washbasin:
Stone Supply:

Now under construction in West Vancouver, this incredible site continues to reveal both its challenges and its beauty. W...
04/24/2026

Now under construction in West Vancouver, this incredible site continues to reveal both its challenges and its beauty. We’re grateful to be collaborating with the talented team at and the exceptional builders at , alongside truly great clients.

Perched high above the city and ocean, the views are nothing short of extraordinary: expansive, immersive, and ever-changing. It’s a setting that demands thoughtful, precise design.

With steep terrain, exposed bedrock, and complex conditions, this is a highly technical landscape. Blast rock generated during construction is being carefully reused across the site for retention and sculptural landscape features, grounding the project in its own material story. Extensive erosion and sediment control measures are also in place to responsibly manage the site throughout construction.

As the landscape takes shape, stone and planting will once again weave together by framing views, stabilizing the terrain, and creating a series of intimate, sheltered spaces within this dramatic, open setting.

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Architecture + Interiors:

General Contractor:

Landscape Contractor:

Another publication in the books for this art piece! Happy to share that our Double Horizons project has also been featu...
03/13/2026

Another publication in the books for this art piece!

Happy to share that our Double Horizons project has also been featured in !

Check out the link in our bio for the full story.

As always, grateful for this talented team:

Architect:
Interior Designer: .vancouver
General Contractor:
Landscape Contractor:
Metal Fabrication:
Pool Contractor:
Photographer:
PR:
Article: /

I’ve always loved the saying, behind every strong man is an even stronger woman. It certainly is true in my case. Withou...
02/25/2026

I’ve always loved the saying, behind every strong man is an even stronger woman. It certainly is true in my case. Without you, the wheels wouldn’t go around, in the business and in our family. You’ve sacrificed a lot to make this dream come true. The team, kids and I have much to be grateful for.

Happy 45th Jess. I hope you enjoy your special day!
All my love, Ryan

We are so proud to share that our project has been featured in The Local Project. It makes us thrilled to see this proje...
02/17/2026

We are so proud to share that our project has been featured in The Local Project.

It makes us thrilled to see this project gathering such great traction online! None of it would have been possible without our amazing team and collaborators.

Thank you all.

Architect:
Interior Designer: .vancouver
Photographer:
General Contractor:
Landscape Contractor:
Metal Fabrication:
Pool Contractor:
Article:

We’re honoured to share that one of our recent projects has been published in Architectural Digest Middle East.To see ou...
02/12/2026

We’re honoured to share that one of our recent projects has been published in Architectural Digest Middle East.

To see our work featured on such an international platform is deeply meaningful. Not simply for the recognition, but for what it represents: a shared commitment to design that is thoughtful, enduring, and rooted in place.

This project was never the work of one studio alone. It came to life through collaboration, with the architects, interior designers, builders and contractors, craftspeople, and clients - each contributing care, precision, and a shared vision.

We’re grateful to the team who helped shape it, and to for telling the story. Thank you to our collaborators:

Architect: 
Interior Designer: .vancouver
General Contractor: 
Landscape Contractor: 
Metal Fabrication: 
Pool Contractor: 
Photographer: 
PR:
Article: Amy Bradford

Inspiration from our recent time spent on Maui.We always love visiting the north side of the island - the small, pristin...
01/23/2026

Inspiration from our recent time spent on Maui.

We always love visiting the north side of the island - the small, pristine beaches near Sprecklesville and Paia in particular. Over the years, we’ve always been drawn to this one house perched on the edge of the lava rocks - it’s not a grand or fancy design, but there’s something about its response to the site conditions and its sense of place that makes it remarkable.

In our design for the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, the recreation room extends into a space designed for relaxed din...
01/13/2026

In our design for the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, the recreation room extends into a space designed for relaxed dining and entertaining, suited for both quiet afternoons and larger gatherings.

A continuous palette of texture and tone carries the interior aesthetic outward, framing views across the central lawn to the pool. Additionally, a cantilevered pergola overhead extends seasonal use while providing refuge from the California heat.

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Builder: 
Architect: 
ID: 

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