John Hreno

I am a landscape design leader working at the intersection of landscape, architecture, ecology and human experience to create places that spark wonder and belonging.

For 20+ years, I have designed and led projects ranging from intimate private gardens to cultural landscapes, hospitality environments, campuses, public spaces, mixed-use communities and large-scale master plans. Based in California, I travel wherever a project calls—my work spans the country and Asia, with a particular focus on the landscapes of the American West.

I approach landscape as both a physical and emotional experience. Climate, geology, water, plants, architecture and human movement are not separate layers—they collectively tell the story of a place.

My architectural background informs how I think about space, material and construction. Designing landscapes has taught me to think in time—how places grow, weather, adapt and become inhabited.

Planting design is central to my practice. I draw on regional native plant communities and sustainable and regenerative design principles, aiming to strengthen ecological function while creating landscapes that serve the people who inhabit them.

Throughout my career, I have led multidisciplinary teams through design and implementation while building lasting relationships with clients, architects, engineers, horticulturists, contractors and craftspeople.

I practice with conviction—ambitious design requires both imagination and restraint.

The goal is to create places that feel inevitable—places that belong to their setting and become meaningful to the people who experience them.