Meet Judy Kameon of Elysian Landscapes in Westlake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Kameon.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 1991, Judy Kameon purchased an empty lot next to her small bungalow in the neighborhood of Elysian Park in Los Angeles with the sole intention of making a beautiful and functional garden. That intention became an obsession and Elysian Landscapes was launched.

The initial focus on residential design quickly blossomed into significant commercial work with such projects as the Parker in Palm Springs, Balenciaga and new models for urban development like Platform in Culver City and Spring Street Lot in Chinatown. Architect Dana Bauer joined the team in 2012 and has taken a leadership role in expanding our firm’s vision, scope and services, as we move into tackling larger, more complex projects and creating extraordinary spaces within the public realm.

Now, a multidisciplinary studio comprised of 12 people with diverse backgrounds, education and experience, Elysian Landscape continues to extend a finely detailed and hands-on approach to making projects at every scale.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As cities become more densely populated and open space becomes more scarce, a growing number of our projects are built on top of structure, rather than on the ground. More and more, we are often working in partnership with large teams to achieve the ambitions of the design, which can be technically challenging but can also create an exciting process and unexpected results.

Please tell us about Elysian Landscapes.
We believe that landscape is a conduit for social engagement and can inspire meaningful connections between people, places and nature. We envision landscape as the new medium of the contemporary city and our work, across multiple private and public commissions, as one continuous habitat.

As a design/build firm, we are able to ensure our ideas and aspirations are executed with the highest quality and intent. Each project represents an opportunity for growth, experimentation and innovation.

Our thoughtful choreography of movement, light, sound, scale, form, color and texture brings extraordinary atmosphere and distinctive character to our private and public spaces at every scale.

We are committed to rich collaboration, open dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Our vast knowledge of plants from around the world enables us to forge landscapes that are as unique as they are sustainable. Above all, we thrive on creating gardens that are deeply personal and celebrate the relationship between planetary health, artistic expression and the ephemerality of the natural world.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in Santa Monica in the 1960s. In the summer, the neighborhood kids ran around with bare feet and we played Kick-the-Can in the street until our mothers called us home for dinner.

Some of my favorite memories were had in our own backyard. My house was one of the few with a swimming pool and was the epicenter of all warm-weather activity. We would frolic in the pool for hours — playing long games of Marco Polo and King of the Hill — and my mom would serve us post-pool-time snacks of orange slices and Neapolitan ice-cream sandwiches. It was a simple and blissful time.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2340 W. 3rd Street
  Los Angeles, CA 90057
• Website: elysianlandscapes.com
• Phone: 213. 380. 3185
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @elysianlandscapes
• Facebook: Elysian Landscapes

Image Credit:
Erik Otsea, Dana Bauer

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