About

Rhyne Designs Landscape Inc. is a residential landscape architecture practice focused on client service with the simple principle being that the owners & users of a property should have beautiful outdoor spaces that they will enjoy.  Rhyne Designs does not adhere strictly to any specific design style.  Instead, inspiration is drawn from the architectural design, the project context and the client’s own tastes.  Careful attention is given to a client’s needs and preferences while communicating clearly so that the design evolves from a collaborative process.

Founded at the beginning of 2013, Rhyne Designs has always sought to keep the business small and take a personal approach to every project.  This allows for the delivery of high quality work with low operating costs and high efficiency that allows us to keep our fees low.  Rhyne Designs has a record of producing beautiful residential designs at many scales, ranging from small backyards to multi-acre properties.  Regardless of the scale, we always look for opportunities to create elegant and comfortable outdoor living spaces.  Well-designed landscapes encourage people to spend more time outdoors, a key component of a sustainable lifestyle.

On every project, Rhyne Designs seeks to create landscapes in harmony with the natural environment.   This starts with paying close attention to landscape water use.  Planting is our passion and we specialize in unique and creative design with California natives and drought tolerant plants from the world’s other Mediterranean climate zones.  Native plantings provide many environmental benefits beyond reduced water use and so become a big component of landscape sustainability.  We welcome a chance to go further with integration of sustainability into the landscape design and are happy to discuss the possibilities with you!

About Billy Rhyne

I am a licensed Landscape Architect with over 27 years of experience, including work at several well-known Bay Area design firms.  I have worked on an amazingly diverse range of projects including not only residential work of all scales, but also college campuses, corporate headquarters, botanic gardens, international resorts and public parks.  Originally trained as an architect, I returned to school for a Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture because I love site design and wanted to work with plants as a design medium.  As my career has progressed, I have enjoyed honing my skills in many facets of landscape design, with an increasing focus on residential work.

In 2013 I decided to leave my position at a large landscape architecture firm and found my own residential design practice.  I was motivated by a desire to have more direct and personal involvement in my work and stay engaged in every project from beginning to end.  I believe strongly in client service, always listening carefully and communicating clearly during the design process to give the client & users the maximum benefit.  I have learned that good design goes beyond pretty pictures and requires dedicated effort to maintain the integrity of the design through the entire process of budgeting, construction, and maintenance.

I loved the San Francisco Bay Area instantly, moving here from East Tennessee for graduate school.  I continue to be inspired by this area's creative energy and the incredible natural and cultural diversity.  I spend my free time hiking and camping, enjoying the culinary delights of the Bay Area, and tending the garden of my East Bay home.

Professional Resume

  • CA Licensed Landscape Architect since 2003, license #4796
    • Bay Friendly Qualified Landscape Design Professional, 2013
    • LEED Accredited Professional, 2009
    • Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
    • Member of the California Native Plant Society
    • Children's Choice Award Winner, 2019
    (from Contra Costa Interfaith Housing for donated landscape design work at
    one of their housing facilities for formerly homeless families)
    • Arnold Soforenko Award Winner
    (for “extraordinary contributions to the urban forest” - awarded to the design team
    that I managed while employed by RHAA, for the Hewlett Packard campus project)

  • Master of Landscape Architecture, 1997

    University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design
    Area of concentration: Ecological Design for Community Sustainability

    Bachelor of Architecture (five year professional degree), 1993

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Architecture and Planning
    Graduated magna cum laude

  • Consulting Landscape Architect, part time positions at companies including:
Jay Thayer L.A., GLS Landscape & Architecture, and BASE L. A.
 2013 – 2015
    - Taking on many roles within these different companies to provide quality control review, documentation advice, design development, and drawing production.

    Associate & Project Manager, RHAA (Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey) San Francisco, CA 2006 – 2013
    - As project manager, my role evolved into taking on complex projects and handling them independently with minimal input from the Principal.  Often responsible for all aspects of a project, including supervision of support staff.  Led the construction administration and field observation for several large, complex projects.
    - As an Associate, participated in the business development of the firm, including marketing writing for proposals, financial projections, invoicing, ongoing creation of office standards, and strategic planning discussions of the direction of the firm.
    - The majority of the projects I worked on at RHAA have significant sustainable features, including five LEED projects and four green roofs.

    Project Manager, Projects Pacific, Berkeley, CA 2005 – 2006
    - Served as project manager at this fourteen person firm (no longer in business), worked primarily on international resort/mixed use projects.

    Project Manager, Lutsko Associates, San Francisco, CA 2000 – 2005
    - Responsible for taking residential and institutional projects from start to finish under the supervision of Mr. Lutsko.  Duties included all aspects of design and documentation as well as some construction administration and field work.

    Landscape Staff, Cottong & Taniguchi, Burlingame, CA 1997 - 2000
    - At the time this was an eight-person firm concentrating on Bay Area corporate campus design, along with residential projects, public parks, and master planning.