For so long, multifamily complexes have functioned as mere boxes to facilitate human survival. Increasingly, Landscape Architects are reimagining these places to support human flourishing with abundant greenery as well as a balanced mix of programmed and flexible spaces to accommodate the range of activity inherent in social community living. Take a look at the following projects extending livable space beyond the four walls of an apartment.


Rather than treating circulation as leftover pavement, this pathway was designed as a destination in itself that stitches together the development's active and passive experiences. Users move fluidly from quiet retreats and lawns on the edges towards larger communal moments, ensuring that the landscape functions as a true neighborhood rather than separated zones. Lighting extends usability after dark, reinforcing safety and enhancing the nighttime identity of the open-space network. PHOTO CREDIT: DPR DESIGN

Founders Yard
Founders Yard is a 13-acre, 341-unit multi-family community in Charleston, South Carolina. When DPR Design joined, the project was struggling to gain approval from the Design Review Board, so the team shifted the landscape from a assortment of isolated amenities into a series of outdoor rooms connected by a continuous pedestrian spine. This "ribbon" walk links every building to every open space, enabling intuitive wayfinding and encouraging residents to move through the site on foot. Along this spine, passive greens and shaded garden areas provide space for quiet respite and informal gatherings, while outdoor kitchens and dining areas facilitate entertaining and social connection. Elsewhere, a hammock grove offers a tranquil retreat, while an expansive active lawn invites group activity. Each open space is defined by planting, edges, and furnishings to feel intentional rather than a generic "open area."


Designed by Wood Rodgers, The Eisley is a 405-unit, Class A, garden-style apartment complex that will soon be complemented by The Eames. Part of the Arden Gateway, this property aims to create an amenity-rich environment with programmed areas, like the grilling stations and pool, as well as multifunctional spaces, like the various lawns that can host oversized billiards, yoga, or fetch.
PHOTO CREDIT: COREY KAZINEC, PLA, WOOD RODGERS, INC.

The pool courtyard is the community's social anchor. Shaped by the building massing, this protected courtyard comprises generous deck areas for lounging, shaded seating zones, and gathering pockets that keep the space useful beyond peak pool hours. Ultimately, the landscape is successful because it reads as a connected system: a walkable sequence of outdoor rooms that creates place, supports resident well-being, and gives the community a clear, Charleston-rooted identity.


The Landscape Architects tested various design concepts, carefully calibrating the balance between large, active gathering spaces and more intimate courtyards. This space features hammocks, an open lawn, grilling and lounge areas, and an accessible bocce court with pea gravel used strategically to create negative space and a clear change in material.
PHOTO CREDIT: COREY KAZINEC, PLA, WOOD RODGERS, INC.

 

Arden Gateway
This 25.1-acre site in northeast Sacramento occupies a prominent gateway position into the urban core. Landscape Architects at multidisciplinary firm Wood Rodgers were selected to transform this long-vacant property into a vibrant, value-driven residential community. Construction for Phase I, The Eisley, was completed in 2022. Design for Phase II, The Eames, culminated in 2025 and will add 332 units while further expanding the amenity framework. A primary goal was to create a unique, amenity-rich environment that adhered to strict budget constraints while standing out in a competitive multifamily market. Central to this was the creation of flexible, engaging, and inclusive outdoor spaces capable of supporting a wide range of activities. Key features include a yoga courtyard, pools and spas, outdoor kitchens, shaded dining pavilions, intimate courtyards with firepits and comfortable seating, and secure, resident-only spaces. The project also incorporates dog parks, agility courses, and convenient dog washing stations, features that have proven especially popular. Challenges like maintaining a high-end amenity feel while managing costs and ensuring security were addressed through careful material selection, efficient space planning, and the controlled-access amenities that serve residents without excess maintenance requirements. The success of Arden Gateway is reflected in satisfied clients, enthusiastic residents, and happy resident dogs, all enjoying spaces designed with them in mind.


The courtyard at Aura Delray Beach is the communal heart of the development, arranged by Landscape Design Workshop to integrate a sequence of spaces that support a variety of social patterns and ensure the courtyard remains active. Arching water jets add movement and sound that enrich the diverse spaces. PHOTO CREDIT: JERRY WYSZATYCKI, AVATAR PRODUCTIONS

Aura Delray Beach
At Aura Delray Beach, the pool area is the community's defining outdoor living room. Designed as a welcoming, people-centered environment by Landscape Design Workshop, this courtyard unfolds as a sequence of outdoor rooms, each offering its own character and rhythm. The pool edge creates a gentle threshold between water and landscape, opening to shaded lounging areas defined by Wild Date Palms (Phoenix silvestris) and intimate seating clusters. The terrace, lined with trees and layered plantings, provides a transition toward the pavilion - a covered destination for outdoor dining, cooking, and fireside gathering. Together, these spaces create a dynamic environment that supports quiet morning routines or lively evening events.


Native grasses in the bio-retention plantings frame the social pavilion, where outdoor dining, cooking, and lounge spaces create a central hub for community life. PHOTO CREDIT: JERRY WYSZATYCKI, AVATAR PRODUCTIONS

Ecology is woven into the experience. Intentionally visible bio-retention gardens not only reduce runoff and support native plant communities but also frame views and reinforce the courtyard's identity as a landscape shaped by environmental values. Material selections and furnishings were chosen to enhance comfort, durability, and a sense of relaxed sophistication. Organic textures and warm tones create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages residents to linger, connect, and return throughout the day. The result feels cohesive, layered, and alive. Aura Delray Beach demonstrates how intentional landscape design can elevate everyday living, creating an outdoor environment that enriches both people and place.


The grand stairs lead to Morrison Yard's largest open lawn between two residential towers with connecting access to the pool, bocce, and barbeque areas. SeamonWhiteside specified Sabal Palms (Sabal palmetto) in elevated concrete planters by Landscape Forms that define the edges of this space. PHOTO CREDIT: SEAMONWHITESIDE

Morrison Yard
Located on five acres in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of Morrison Yard Residences is low-lying, flood-prone, and tightly constrained. Despite clear flooding challenges, SeamonWhiteside reframed these risks as opportunities to showcase low-impact design strategies while embracing Charleston's Stormwater Manual. Despite a compact site, the Landscape Architects carved out three private courtyards and three public-facing courtyards anchored by a central lawn, totaling approximately 1.5 acres of useable outdoor space.


Rather than viewing flooding risk as limitations, the Landscape Architects recognized the potential to shape a project that prioritizes community connection and elevates daily livability. The resulting design incorporates raised boardwalk elements alongside planted rain gardens featuring River Birch Trees (Betula nigra) and Yellow Canna Lilies (Canna indica) to aid with stormwater mitigation.
PHOTO CREDIT: SEAMONWHITESIDE

Material and planting selections further reinforced the project's connection to place. The team preserved a magnificent, 73-inch Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), giving the project a soulful connection to the local landscape's iconic character. Brick pavers and bluestone reference traditional Charleston materials and patterns, while pervious surfaces and six linear rain gardens transform stormwater management into verdant, biodiverse edges. Elevated walkways and gently sloped transitions protect against storm surges and draw users into welcoming spaces. A wide range of lifestyles are supported with regulation bocce courts framed by marsh views, a podium-level pool, fire features, grilling stations, flexible lawns, outdoor workstations with WiFi, enclosed dog runs, water features, and connections to the Ravenel Bridge. Challenges related to flood risk, limited acreage, and urban density became defining features of a resilient, inviting, and highly utilized landscape.


Rather than viewing flooding risk as limitations, the Landscape Architects recognized the potential to shape a project that prioritizes community connection and elevates daily livability. The resulting design incorporates raised boardwalk elements alongside planted rain gardens featuring River Birch Trees (Betula nigra) and Yellow Canna Lilies (Canna indica) to aid with stormwater mitigation.
PHOTO CREDIT: SEAMONWHITESIDE

Ambrose Uptown Courtyards
Surrounded by myriad cultural and entertainment options in Downtown Dallas, Ambrose is a holistic experience embedded in a dynamic urban fabric. The project's primary focus was revitalizing the existing courtyards, which were in a dilapidated state. After removing raised planters that dominated the space, Complete Landsculpture increased usable space by 1,250 square feet. The vibrant context of the Deep Ellum neighborhood influenced design choices, prioritizing the creation of a welcoming and functional outdoor space. This led to the introduction of various shade structures, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, TVs, and a bocce court, as well as the replacement of brick inlays with synthetic turf to soften the hardscape. Privacy screens were strategically placed to address the need for private retreats within the communal space. With loading weight restrictions for the rooftop deck, material choice played a crucial role in achieving the desired design aesthetic and functionality.


The second courtyard on the property contains a pool complete with a shelf and in-pool loungers as well as a semicircle jacuzzi on one end with ample stairs and depth ranges for users of all ages. The pool deck is surrounded by a pickleball court and additional outdoor grilling stations as well as several, more intimate lounging cabanas. PHOTO CREDIT: CHAD HATCHER

Environmental sustainability was incorporated by retaining existing drainage systems and utilizing synthetic turf alongside native, water-wise planting. The landscape design aimed to enhance the overall environmental quality of the space, ensuring it remained a sustainable and enjoyable outdoor retreat. The revitalization of Ambrose's courtyard balances aesthetic appeal, usability, and environmental considerations, creating an urban oasis that enhances overall living for Dallas residents.

Designing For The Everyday
Spread across the country, these projects highlight realized potential in multifamily sites to foster social connectivity as well as physical and mental wellbeing. Though the architect designs beautiful indoor living areas, it is the Landscape Architect who crafts a community for residents to make their own.