Robert Mowat Associates is an award-winning firm with over 40 years of project experience. Our firm's mission is to create environmental designs of aesthetic, functional, and sustainable beauty.
The firm's projects comprise of large master planned communities and land planning projects encompassing complex built and natural systems. RMA's diverse project typology includes parks, playgrounds, roadways, along with commercial and hospitality developments. The firm's designs have been realized both internationally and nationally, within the states of Hawaii, Montana, Minnesota, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Illinois, and Colorado. Our timeless projects endure with a strong regional context and a specific site identity.

Monarch Park, Brentwood, CA

 
This 2.8 acre project is comprised of 3 separate play areas, 2 covered picnic areas, a basketball court, covered bocce ball court, regional bike trail, bike repair station, lawn game space, storm water basins, and several habitat restoration areas. Storm water treatment basins serve an entire 310 home community ensuring roadway and home runoff water is retained and cleansed prior to reaching the sensitive Marsh Creek habitat. A regional bike trail along the park's edge is separated by a native planted berm that acts as a receptacle for storm water runoff. The bike and pedestrian trail were designed with permeable paving; one more measure to ensure storm water from the nearby homes and streets does not reach the sensitive creek habitat directly.
Monarch and Kestrel Parks in Brentwood, California illustrate Robert Mowat Associates breadth in designing climate and regionally appropriate public park spaces. These two parks provide creek mitigation measures, California native plantings, shade creation, and habitat restoration. Landscape elements designed with "peak imagery" mimic the form of iconographic Mt. Diablo in the nearby mountains. Canvas canopy shade structures fully cover the play equipment structures. Hardscape areas were designed with built structures and large canopy trees to provide a full covering of shade.

Calistoga Compound, CA

Above: This 2.5 acre compound of buildings and landscape is a decided departure from your typical Napa Valley estate. No winery buildings, nor grape vines were designed into this land plan or landscape. Instead, a collection of home buildings and outdoor spaces were designed to be realized over a decade long growth plan with an unusual landscape focus. The land plan centers on a large future main home at the end of tree lined drive set amongst a sea of Lavender. A smaller temporary main residence is sited to take advantage of the Mayacamas and Palisades Coastal mountains.
A center tree lined drive divides the property. The unifying landscape element is a commercial crop of Lavender. A small farm building nicknamed the Casita provides storage and farm management services. A separate barn building stores both farm equipment along with a renovated historic Ford Tractor. The landscape is planted entirely with California natives, with the exception of the driveway trees and previously growing site adapted shrubs.
Rammed earth walls, using on site soil, create social spaces and division between auto and people spaces. The rammed earth walls also double as defining the patio spaces with a soothing integral fountain. The social spaces are adorned with Corten steel landscape elements, including a uniquely designed fire pit. Crushed local quarry rock provides the ground plane unifying all auto, social, and planted spaces of the property. Custom lighting located throughout the social spaces allows for entertaining opportunities at any time of the evening. Specialized lighting highlights important landscape features throughout the property.

Lafayette Residence, CA

Right: Located at the foot of a windy, yet alluring hillside in Northern California lies a collection of intriguing outdoor spaces. Within this designed landscape, separate areas for cooking, dining, socializing, sunning, and gardening exist cohesively. Highlighting the landscape is a wood lamella structure created for multiple social functions and modifying the windy micro-climate conditions.
This unique system of lamellae establishes an exciting contemporary framework for the landscape. Lamellae becomes wall, trellis, screen, arbor, and provides a substructure for an upstairs master-bedroom deck capitalizing hillside views. The lamellae construct a unique way for sun and wind to be gently filtered into the spaces. Stone walls deflect winds from neighboring homes.
As night falls, the landscape becomes warm rooms for outdoor living. Fire elements adorn the rear and side yards with LEDs creating a warm glow. Alluring seating with a fireplace and dining table are framed by lamellae. A nearby boxed garden grows culinary herbs and vegetables.