Firms of Florida - Orlando Comas

Miami, Florida
by

Casa Balada, Coral Gables, Florida
In Coral Gables, Florida, the client, a builder of luxury homes, wanted a tropical landscape look for his own modern Bali style home that would flow from the front yard through the interior water gardens and end in a very simple structured landscape look for the rear yard pool area. The landscape architect achieved interest by fusing the architecture with the landscape not only with the right choice of plant material but also by creating different levels with natural oolite stone blocks. Simplicity was a must in the owner's requirements list for the rear pool area. This was accomplished by using a very small palette of plant material and simple design for the hardscape spaces. Successful fusion of a landscape project like this one provided an achievement for the landscape architect and wonderful outdoor living spaces for the owner and his family.

Hammock Lake Residence, Coral Gables, Florida

 
On a lakefront lot in sunny South Florida, Orlando Comas was asked to create a tropical oasis. A spacious lawn area was provided for the youngsters to play and the perimeter of the rear yard was densely planted with tropical trees and shrubs. A wood deck was placed at the lake's edge to overlook the water and the beautiful sunsets which can be observed from this deck. In the rear yard a four-sided infinity pool, which is raised nine inches above the pool deck, was designed.

Lakeside Modern, Coral Gables, Florida
The magic of the 32,000 square foot lakefront property in Coral Gables, Florida, prompted the owners to purchase the land and build their dream home. The owners selected the architect and landscape architect to create a home for their family that would embrace their love for the outdoors. After outlining their design program, they convinced the design team to produce a plan to make the whole site come together. The result is an intense relationship between site and structure, both beautiful and functional. The owner's priority was placed in the main entertainment areas, leaving the driveway entrance, front privacy wall, gates and the front area planting to be kept simple and practical. The landscape architect created three activity levels. Outdoor seating and dining areas were placed at pool level. An extensive yard area was created which included play activities for the children at mid-level with a wood deck and sandy beach placed at lakeshore level. The three levels provide different entertainment areas which can be used simultaneously by different members of the family and their guests. Natural local stone was selected to design the retaining walls and steps connecting the different levels with a green design approach in mind. Plants that were either native or acclimatized to the South Florida sub-tropical zone were selected.

South Florida Beachfront
The landscape architect used sound conservation design and economic feasibility in pairing two neighbors to meet the municipal beachfront codes, the state's environmental costal requirements and the client's design program to have open areas for family outdoor life. The result, a site that retained all excavated sand, allows for storm water retention, provides planting that mimics the adjoining dune plantings and satisfies the client's program.On a very narrow 50-foot-wide site, the volume of excavated sand became a challenge for the landscape architect. Providing a level area for family and social gathering on a site where there was no space to create slopes could only be achieved by means of retaining walls. The walls could not be constructed out of conventional concrete and steel reinforcing since there was a code requirement that they had to be "break way". As a result, oolite natural stone blocks with no joint materials were used to contain the existing sand as if they were retaining walls. In placing these containments, an upper level area was created. The upper yard is for the owner's use, and sufficient area at grade was implemented to provide for storm water collection swales. Planting areas between the stone blocks provide a green transition from grade level to the upper yard area.

x

1 / 4

Casa Balada, Coral Gables, Florida
In Coral Gables, Florida, the client, a builder of luxury homes, wanted a tropical landscape look for his own modern Bali style home that would flow from the front yard through the interior water gardens and end in a very simple structured landscape look for the rear yard pool area. The landscape architect achieved interest by fusing the architecture with the landscape not only with the right choice of plant material but also by creating different levels with natural oolite stone blocks. Simplicity was a must in the owner's requirements list for the rear pool area. This was accomplished by using a very small palette of plant material and simple design for the hardscape spaces. Successful fusion of a landscape project like this one provided an achievement for the landscape architect and wonderful outdoor living spaces for the owner and his family.

2 / 4

Hammock Lake Residence, Coral Gables, Florida
On a lakefront lot in sunny South Florida, Orlando Comas was asked to create a tropical oasis. A spacious lawn area was provided for the youngsters to play and the perimeter of the rear yard was densely planted with tropical trees and shrubs. A wood deck was placed at the lake's edge to overlook the water and the beautiful sunsets which can be observed from this deck. In the rear yard a four-sided infinity pool, which is raised nine inches above the pool deck, was designed.

3 / 4

Lakeside Modern, Coral Gables, Florida
The magic of the 32,000 square foot lakefront property in Coral Gables, Florida, prompted the owners to purchase the land and build their dream home. The owners selected the architect and landscape architect to create a home for their family that would embrace their love for the outdoors. After outlining their design program, they convinced the design team to produce a plan to make the whole site come together. The result is an intense relationship between site and structure, both beautiful and functional. The owner's priority was placed in the main entertainment areas, leaving the driveway entrance, front privacy wall, gates and the front area planting to be kept simple and practical. The landscape architect created three activity levels. Outdoor seating and dining areas were placed at pool level. An extensive yard area was created which included play activities for the children at mid-level with a wood deck and sandy beach placed at lakeshore level. The three levels provide different entertainment areas which can be used simultaneously by different members of the family and their guests. Natural local stone was selected to design the retaining walls and steps connecting the different levels with a green design approach in mind. Plants that were either native or acclimatized to the South Florida sub-tropical zone were selected.

4 / 4

South Florida Beachfront
The landscape architect used sound conservation design and economic feasibility in pairing two neighbors to meet the municipal beachfront codes, the state's environmental costal requirements and the client's design program to have open areas for family outdoor life. The result, a site that retained all excavated sand, allows for storm water retention, provides planting that mimics the adjoining dune plantings and satisfies the client's program.On a very narrow 50-foot-wide site, the volume of excavated sand became a challenge for the landscape architect. Providing a level area for family and social gathering on a site where there was no space to create slopes could only be achieved by means of retaining walls. The walls could not be constructed out of conventional concrete and steel reinforcing since there was a code requirement that they had to be "break way". As a result, oolite natural stone blocks with no joint materials were used to contain the existing sand as if they were retaining walls. In placing these containments, an upper level area was created. The upper yard is for the owner's use, and sufficient area at grade was implemented to provide for storm water collection swales. Planting areas between the stone blocks provide a green transition from grade level to the upper yard area.

Florida licensed Landscape Architect, Orlando Comas is nearing his fiftieth year enjoying a career in landscape design, while still owning the compelling enthusiasm to create outdoor environments for a select clientele. His dedication has taken him to South and Central America, the Caribbean and South Florida. He is committed to providing his clients with full-service landscape architecture. Most projects include the design of both hardscape and landscape. A member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and treasurer of the Society of Registered Architects, his work has been featured prominently in local, national and international publications. Each job brings the unique opportunity of providing design proficiency and expanding his oeuvre by integrating experience, new materials and working hand in hand with client???,??,,?s lifestyles and preferences. He has successfully collaborated with renowned architects, designers and fellow landscape architects on the international level and on a very wide range of construction and landscape design projects.

Editor's Note: With the ASLA annual meeting and EXPO in Miami canceled this year due to safety concerns amid the COVID-19 health pandemic, LASN still wanted to highlight the landscape architectural work of firms from the southeast region. LASN asked the firms to send us a short biographical profile, plus photography from selected projects, with a brief description of the design work for each project. We let the firms speak for themselves in their profiles and in describing the projects, although some editing was required because of space restraints and not all photography and projects could be included. Thank you, firms of Florida and Alabama for participating!

As seen in LASN magazine, September 2020.

Tweet