OCULUS is a cross-disciplinary design studio committed to connecting people with their environment and each other. Founded in 1993, OCULUS employs 40+ people across four studios in the United States and Australia. Their projects contribute to public life, combining high levels of amenity with ecological sustainability. They work across all scales, from the design of parks, gardens, streets, and mixed-used precincts, to rooftops, terraces, architectural structures, furniture, green roofs, and façades. Their team in Washington, D.C. is led by Principals Don Hoover, PLA and Liam Butt.
Software used: AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Creative Suite

Wheaton Town Square, Wheaton, Maryland

A: A transit-oriented, mixed-use space that includes streetscapes, stormwater management infrastructure, interpretive exhibits, a multi-functional town square, and a pollinator-friendly rooftop meadow.

Wesley Place, Melbourne, Australia.

 

B: The many heritage buildings on the site are integral to its character and are respected and celebrated by the landscape architecture. This project has won many awards, including the 2023 Great Place Award from Urban Development Institute of Australia Victorian Chapter, the 2022 District/Master Plan Scale Winner in the Urban Habitat category for the Council on Tall Buildings Awards, the 2022 Victory Award for Cultural Heritage from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) as well as the 2022 Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape from the AILA, and the 2023 2023 Good Design Award for Architectural Design in the Place
Design category.

Lubber Run Community Center, Arlington, Virginia

C: A net-zero community center that blurs the line between architecture and landscape. The design maximizes natural space while minimizing any impacts on the Lubber Run Resource Protection Area and adjacent residents. The new facility features a fitness center, senior center, meeting rooms, a playground, sports courts, and multi-purpose lawns. Bioretention gardens provide on-site stormwater management and balance resident needs with environmental stewardship. This project received the AIA D.C. Chapter Design Award in 2021 and the National American Institute of Architects Architecture Award in 2023.

Dock 79, Washington, D.C.

D: A waterfront destination that celebrates the riverfront by amplifying the site's unique cultural and natural characteristics. Completed in 2016, the plazas, promenade, outdoor dining terraces, and intimate spaces creatively accommodate both public and private functions. This project received a Merit Award from the ASLA Potomac Chapter in 2015 in the Unbuilt Project Category.

Market Street Park, Melbourne, Australia

E: A new park replaces former road space and offers improved pedestrian access to public transport, new bicycle lanes, and bicycle parking. The park includes a wide variety of trees and water-sensitive urban design elements to reduce stormwater runoff. This project was the Landscape Urban Finalist and the Melbourne Awards Urban Design Finalist
in 2022.

West Head Lookout,
Sydney, Australia

F: This significant upgrade of West Head Lookout restores safety for visitors, improves access, and maintains uninterrupted views of the spectacular natural landscape while celebrating Bruce Mackenzie's original 'Sydney Bush School' design. The Lookout received the 2024 AILA NSW Award of Excellence for Tourism and was the 2024 NSW Heritage Awards Landscape Winner from the National Trust.