Landscaping design in Commercial and Public Spaces

Commercial and public spaces present a landscaping designer with several challenging situations. Taking

a portion of land that is in the public eye and turning it into a verdant lung space is a task that requires

finesse and responsibility. From the choice of plants to their layout in the garden, every element of

commercial landscaping involves careful planning and implementation. In this aspect, the American

outdoors in and around San Diego presents a special opportunity to create spaces that reflect the rich

botanical diversity of the Golden State.

It’s not often that you hear of gardens spoken of as ambassadors of cultural harmony, but a

conversation with award-winning landscaping designer and owner of Forget-Me-Not Landscape Design,

Roxanne Kim-Perez will give you a glimpse of how art, environmental conservation and culture are

inseparable parts of a public park or even the façade of an office building. Art is one of the most

important representations of the cultural flavor of a country or people. “To take the essence of

Californian culture and translating it into a visually delightful, tangible form is a unique challenge that I

enjoy meeting.” she says.

With hands-on experience in designing some of the most admired private gardens in San Diego, Roxy

Kim-Perez relies on her own cultural influences and the fact that California is a melting pot of languages,

ethnicities and culture from all over the world when designing gardens and lung spaces for public

spaces. Public spaces are far more noticed and provide an accessible visual identity to any building or

space. Outdoor green spaces need to be sustainable and relatively low-maintenance when compared to

private gardens. Installations that form part of a larger building need to flow with the visual and

atmospheric harmony of the structure, while being hydro-friendly and sustainable for years. While

creating a design for such spaces is no easy task – implementing it is a far more challenging and yet,

satisfying task.

The design process for public spaces usually involves a large client team and Roxy begins the process by

understanding what each decision maker is looking for in installation. Keeping the client involved in

every step of the creative and implementation process is a big part of Roxy Kim Perez’s commitment to

honesty and integrity. She believes that native, drought-resistant and pest-resistant species are the core

of a landscaping designing experience that creates beautiful green spaces that reflect California’s unique

geographic and cultural identity. Roxy is also a vocal and ardent advocate of water-wise design that

minimizes a client’s water use while enjoying a beautiful commercial garden façade.