Portrait photography by Christiaan Blok Laura McFall (right) & Elizabeth Blackburn (left)

LAURA MCFALL & ELIZABETH BLACKBURN

Age: Both, 32

Profession: Landscape Architects
Company: McFall Blackburn, Scottsdale and Dallas

How did you get into this line of work?
McFall (right): At the age of 20 I learned to draw and became aware of landscape architecture. Because it incorporates art and science, and is both theoretical and practical, I realized it would allow me to work on a wide range of projects.
Blackburn (left): Growing up I spent most of my time either drawing or building trails and forts in the woods behind our house. I also spent a lot of time on construction sites and touring open houses with my dad, who was a custom residential builder. It wasn’t until after receiving my undergraduate degree and working for a few years that I began to research graduate programs and became aware of landscape architecture.

What inspires you?
We never know where inspiration will come from on a given project—it happens in an instant. When clients tell us that we have read their minds, or have helped them see new opportunities, then we know we’ve done our job.

What is your design philosophy?
We like to identify a few key inspirations—which we can then begin to interpret within an appropriate design style—with our goal being to create a timeless landscape that will be loved today and get better with time.

What is your biggest design accomplishment to date?
McFall: While at Urban Earth Design I worked on a project that was recognized with two awards—a Valley Forward Crescordia Award and an Arizona Chapter-American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award. The home was also featured in Phoenix Home & Garden.
Blackburn: I am very proud to have been involved in the Kuban Elementary School Build A Park Program, which allowed me to share my love of design with kids.

What’s on the horizon?
Several custom residential designs, a 300-acre waterfront residential community, and a boutique hotel property on a golf course, both in Louisiana..

Elizabeth Blackburn and Laura McFall renovated the landscape of this residence to take advantage of city and mountain views. They removed existing vegetation along the perimeter of the home and added such elements as an expanded pool deck, banco seating and a raised planter. “Following the precedent set by the Contemporary architecture, and utilizing the same building materials, we created an outdoor living space that looks as if it has always been part of the house,” they explain.

This landscape reflects a technique the pair calls “ribboning,” which utilizes masses of native plantings blended with a “mulch” of rocks to create the appearance of a naturally planted area.

A water feature positioned to be viewed both indoors and out is the centerpiece of this backyard sketch. The hardscape’s color palette was selected to complement tones found in the home’s interiors.

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