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Happy Halloween from the VBD team 🎃👻! Trick Happy Halloween from the VBD team 🎃👻! Trick or tree?! 🌲 🍬
Morning light casting over the pool of this countr Morning light casting over the pool of this country retreat #morningvibes ! Landscape Contractor @environmentaldesigngroup Landscape architects Virginia Burt and Paul Carabott @vbdlandarch
VBD creates landscapes that inspire - blending art VBD creates landscapes that inspire - blending art, nature, and design to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. We are now hiring an intermediate or senior landscape architect who loves creating innovative designs, managing exciting projects, and mentoring others. Visit our website and the OALA job board for more information about our firm and the role; resume and portfolio can be sent to leanne@vburtdesigns.com
From Virginia’s own vegetable garden, the VBD te From Virginia’s own vegetable garden, the VBD team juices their own shots for a morning energy boost! Today is carrot and ginger on top of a design extravaganza - thank you to @twospoons.ca for the recipe! Photography by @rsmphoto
Inside our clients’ kitchen looking out at the l Inside our clients’ kitchen looking out at the landscape. Grateful for our collaborations with @plusvg , @tamaracknorth.ltd @rockscape and @steppingstonemasonry
At VBD, Virginia's hand drawings are integral to e At VBD, Virginia's hand drawings are integral to every design phase. Whether illustrating the overarching concept or conveying specific details, Virginia utilizes sketching as a vital tool for teaching her team and communicating with clients and collaborators. These sketches play an active role in bringing designs to life efficiently, effectively, and beautifully. Recently at the CSLA conference, Virginia and Ethan spoke to different visualization techniques in landscape architecture; from Virginia's sketches, to VBD's use of contemporary software, and integration of AI in the profession. You can learn out more about the presentation "From Pencils to Pixels: The Alchemy of Idea to Reality" in our upcoming summer newsletter. Sign up with the link in our bio! Photography by @rsmphoto #landscapedesign #landscapearchitecture #muskokalife #outdoorliving #pencilstopits #landscapesketch #landscapearchitect #construction #designdrawing #renderingsoftware #aiinlandscaping #pencilstopixels #csla
Get ready for som a-llium-inating content…we are Get ready for som a-llium-inating content…we are excited to share what we’ve been up to lately in our summer newsletter! Our newsletters are published four times a year, coinciding with the solstices and equinoxes, ensuring each edition is seasonal, inspirational, and filled with the latest VBD updates. Sign up on the contact page of our website - link in bio. Photography by @lightandshadowphoto #landscapearchitecture #designnewsletter #gardeninspiration #goingtoseed #alliums #seasonalupdates #landscapedesigners #gardensofinsta
You may see more of this project in a couple publi You may see more of this project in a couple publications this month 👀! Pictured here is the custom-designed spa with views onto Lake Rosseau. Photography by @rsmphoto #lakerosseau #lakehouse #retreat #vacationhome #landscapearchitecture #ontariolandscaping #cottagelife #granitesteps #outdoorspa #landscapedesign #muskokalakes #shorelinerestoration #outdoorliving
Meet the Team - Founder Friday Edition! As we cont Meet the Team - Founder Friday Edition! As we continue to introduce our team on the gram, there is no other like our visionary leader - Virginia Burt, FCSLA, FASLA. Since founding Virginia Burt Designs in 1996, Virginia has designed and directed healing landscapes for private residential, educational and public clients. Virginia’s work has achieved international recognition receiving multiple awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects and Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. She is one of seven women in the world with Fellowships from both societies for outstanding contribution to the profession. Leading every project at VBD, clients appreciate and value her deep respect for place - Virginia gets things built beautifully.  Photography @lightandshadowphoto
Wecome, May! Every day we are excited to see new b Wecome, May! Every day we are excited to see new buds turn to blooms, and what is green grow greener. Architecture: @d.h.ellison.co Landscape: @vbdlandarch Photography: @rsmphoto
"Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of "Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.” —George Washington Carver Its earth day and our feeds are being filled with stunning images celebrating our planet. This is no exception, as we are so incredibly honoured and grateful for our work in landscape architecture where we celebrate, reflect upon, and are inspired by, the profound connection between humanity and the natural world each and every day. "Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." —Frank Lloyd Wright
Setting our sights - on site. Last week @vbdlandar Setting our sights - on site. Last week @vbdlandarch and @akbarchitects teamed up during the early planning stages of this new project. The collaboration fostered during these site visits lays the groundwork for a holistic approach to design and critical interdependent work. Through dialogue and observation, we glean invaluable insights into the aspirations and requirements of our clients, ensuring that their vision is not just realized, but enriched by the innate beauty of the site. In our upcoming newsletter, we'll share this "in-site" and discuss how we take inventory of natural features and decipher subtle nuances of the terrain. This "insight on-site" equips us to make informed decisions regarding the placement of future driveways, homes, paths, terraces, and other elements essential to the functionality and flow of a space and program. Remember to sign up for our quarterly newsletter on the contact page of our website - see the link in our bio. Happy Monday everyone! #northernlandscapes #landscapearchitecture #canadianlandscape #designcollaboration #designwithnature #landscapearchitect #siteanalysis
Still ‘reeling’ over last week’s solar eclip Still ‘reeling’ over last week’s solar eclipse where the VBD team celebrated in Virginia’s garden with ‘dark and stormy’ drinks. Sydney Martel (far right) has one of the best reactions in totality 😂
Garden gates are more than mere entrances - these Garden gates are more than mere entrances - these architectural elements add depth, meaning, visual interest, and function. As April is World Landscape Architecture Month, lets celebrate by exploring the elements that make garden gates a quintessential part of landscape design: 1. Entry Identity 2. Functionality and security 3. Sustainability, material selection, and craft 4. Symbolism and Storytelling 5. Boundary or liminality Want to know more about our designs? Stay ‘up to gate’ by subscribing to our quarterly newsletter! Link in bio to our website and sign-up on our contact page. Photography by @rsmphoto
Soon we will be spending our weekend mornings in t Soon we will be spending our weekend mornings in the sun - enjoying our coffee outside! Have you taken out the patio cushions yet? Photography: @rsmphoto #indooroutdoorliving #patiofurniture #landscapedesign #patiodining #outdoorliving #landscapearchitecture #landscapearchitect #sundaymorningview #coffeeoutside #outdoorentertaining #scenicview
Oh the arrival - of spring, of blooms, of the driv Oh the arrival - of spring, of blooms, of the driveway to the residence - the anticipation of the season and the home beyond. One of our cottage gardens on the east coast: Photography by @rsmphoto
Have a wonderful long weekend everyone and cheers Have a wonderful long weekend everyone and cheers to spring blooms! "The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size." —Gertrude Wister, horticulturalist, author, and fellow spring bulb enthusiast.
Renewal. Regeneration. Rewilding. We are ready for Renewal. Regeneration. Rewilding. We are ready for you spring! Video from @bowkerproductions at our Lake Rosseau Cottage project. Visit our website (link in bio) to see more of our residential and rewilding work. 🌼
The warm weather has all of us gardeners re-checki The warm weather has all of us gardeners re-checking our frost dates...Throwback to this vegetable garden and horticultural therapy room for adults with ASD. Beyond the therapeutic benefits, vegetable gardening empowers adults with ASD by honing essential life skills and cultivating independence. From planning and organizing tasks to problem-solving and decision-making, every aspect of tending to a garden provides invaluable opportunities for skill development, vocational training, and personal growth. Research and design: Virginia Burt, Emily Thorpe, Paul Carabott Photography by: @rsmphoto
Celebrating the Brilliance of Women in Landscape A Celebrating the Brilliance of Women in Landscape Architecture. Today, on International Women's Day, we proudly stand alongside the remarkable women who lead and shape our landscape architecture firm. At VBD, we are privileged to be women-led and amongst visionary women who have elevated our designs to new heights. Their commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and passion for sustainable landscapes are evident in every project we undertake. Today, we also honour the women collaborators, clients, partners, and celebrate the achievements of women past, present, and future! To all the extraordinary women in landscape architecture and beyond, thank you for your tireless dedication, passion, and leadership. Today, and every day, we celebrate you! Photography by @lightandshadowphoto
Bespoke and be-soak: A raised or a sunken spa? For Bespoke and be-soak: A raised or a sunken spa? For us, its a 'both and...' While sunken spas can provide an 'immersive' experience within the landscape and perhaps a more seamless transition, a raised spa can create additional viewpoints to enjoy from the landscape (second image), provide an edge for casual seating, or create dilenation from a pool or terrace (third and fourth images). Photography by @rsmphoto #tubtalk #thursdayreflections #landscapephotography #landscapearchitecture #spadesign #outdoorpool #landscapearchitect #outdoorliving #waterfeature #pooldesign #outdoorentertaining
Lets name it - its a ‘phase’. Like any desig Lets name it - its a ‘phase’. Like any designer, landscape architects are constantly evolving our craft, exploring new styles, and finding inspiration in unexpected places. Just like the ever-changing seasons, our design journey unfolds in phases, often described as schematic, design development, construction etc - but what about the stylistic phases of a designer? We have previously jested about this in office - designer phases that result with independent projects incorporating similar elements, "oh my, its the ‘oval’ phase,” or pictured as a before and after here, “the era of the fin fence.” Lets, name it, recognize it, and celebrate it, as these are testaments to our experimentation, growth, and willingness to push boundaries. Remember, sustainable designs and timeless designs go hand in hand - remaining relevant and captivating across generations. Whatever elements are included in these ‘designers’ phases’, keep them grounded in this understanding. Do they embody the Vitruvian principles of commodity, firmness, and delight? In other words, can you ensure they are not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and enduringly useful? So whether you’re currently in the midst of a fin-fencing frenzy, or whatever the parallel is in your industry, embrace every twist, arc, and turn of this creative journey; captivate, innovate, and elevate timeless design. Many thanks to the collaboration with Kweld on these two ‘fin’ ished projects featured here. Photography @rsmphoto Landscape contractor @environmentaldesigngroup
Meet the Team - Tuesday Edition! Sydney joined VBD Meet the Team - Tuesday Edition! Sydney joined VBD in the fall of 2023 and brings nearly a decade of experience. Sydney Martel | Landscape Architect Motivated to create engaging spaces for folks to live, work, rest and play, Sydney strives to craft transformative spaces that inspire social, environmental, and spiritual enrichment. As a mother and avid gardener, she sees the value in creating accessible, beautiful, and engaging spaces for people of all ages and abilities; drawing inspiration from her travels across Europe and North America, her designs are imbued with robust and beautiful plantings to ensure continued growth and interest throughout the seasons. Photography @lightandshadowphoto
#throwbackthursday to our rooftop garden project i #throwbackthursday to our rooftop garden project in Ohio. Transforming an existing ballast roof, this composition of green space creates a peaceful respite overlooking the neighbourhood. Materials and detailing have significant meaning to the owner by recalling the industrial and agriculutral roots of their family. Photography by @rsmphoto
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Virginia Burt designs

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