LECTURES

[ design lecture series ]

Our design lecture series highlights our studio's design process and philosophy as contemporary place makers. We share anecdotes about our experiences, invaluable lessons and illustrations of our favorite secret gardens and design details. Please contact our firm to inquire about opportunities to speak at your next professional design organization meeting.

Mid Century Garden | Coconut Grove, Florida

tropiCOLOR: Planting Combinations for Subtropical Gardens

Join award-winning landscape architect Carlos Somoza on an engaging journey through subtropical gardens and contemporary landscapes. The lecture will explore the studio’s philosophy of sustainable planting design, highlighting the key principles that shape their renowned gardens. The discussion will touch upon the use of color, form, and texture, alongside the cultural, growth, and architectural characteristics of both native and exotic plant palettes. A curated list of the studio’s favorite plant combinations for Zone 10, as well as a selection of local nursery resources for sourcing plant materials will be presented during this session.

This lecture is part of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's
Horticulture and Design Lecture series.

DATE: Saturday, February 22, 2025
TIME: 10:30am to 12:30pm
LOCATION: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
REGISTER ONLINE: via event website

Mid Century Garden | Coconut Grove, Florida

Building Materials for Subtropical Gardens

The key to building beautiful outdoor spaces relies heavily on planning, choosing the right building materials and applying common sense construction techniques when building a garden. Miami landscape architect, Carlos Somoza, will present case studies of South Florida garden projects highlighting the design process and the firm's expertise in creating award-winning outdoor spaces and noteworthy gardens. Carlos will present both natural and man-made building material alternatives including precast concrete pavers, local and imported stone, and tropical hardwood decking.
This lecture is part of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's
Horticulture and Design Lecture series.

DATE: Fall 2025
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Note: This lecture focuses on the building materials and construction aspects that arise when building a residential garden. If you are seeking information on planting design and the plant species suitable for South Florida landscapes, please consider registering for the course, TropiCOLOR: Planting Combinations for Subtropical Gardens’ being offered in the Spring 2023.

PAST ENGAGEMENTS

2024