Gardens Designed for Living
Thoughtfully crafted outdoor spaces that bring beauty, connection and purpose to everyday life.
For people who believe their garden should be as thoughtfully designed as their home.
Whether it's a courtyard, family garden, country property or estate, I help transform underutilised outdoor spaces into places for gathering, entertaining, retreating and delight.
Are you...
Looking out at a garden that doesn't yet reflect the way you'd like to live?
Struggling to know where to start with a large or overwhelming property?
Dreaming of growing food but unsure how to integrate it beautifully?
Wanting spaces that bring your family and friends outdoors more often?
Ready to transform your garden into a sanctuary?
If yes, you're in the right place.
My name is Ian Dommisse. I am an architect turned landscape designer based in Cape Town.
For more than a decade, I have been designing outdoor spaces across residential, hospitality and estate projects, helping clients unlock the full potential of their properties.
My work ranges from intimate courtyards and family gardens to larger landscape commissions. One of my most notable projects was the edible experiential garden at Angama Mara in Kenya, where the landscape forms an integral part of the guest experience.
Alongside my design work, I am a co-founder of the Grow SA Learnership Programme. Having previously served as Project Manager, I now play a mentoring role in support of the programme's ongoing development.
I am endlessly fascinated by the relationship between people, architecture and landscape, and by how thoughtful design can transform the way we experience a place.
My Approach is W.I.L.D.
Wholesome. Intensive. Landscape. Design.
For visionary property owners ready to transform their outdoor spaces, and who reimagine their landscapes to align with any of the following ways your garden can serve you:
The Journey to Your Garden Sanctuary
Site analysis & discovery
Concept design
Planting design
Spatial planning
Outdoor room creation
Material and finishes selection
Lighting and irrigation coordination
Design documentation
Project oversight
Design + Installation
For clients who would like a single point of responsibility from concept through to completion.
Rather than handing over drawings and wishing you luck, I coordinate the implementation process to ensure the vision is carried through cohesively.
Includes:
Plant sourcing
Tree sourcing
Soft landscaping
Contractor coordination
Hardscape oversight
Lighting and irrigation coordination
Quality control
Final styling and planting
Places to Gather
Outdoor rooms for entertaining, celebrations and family connection.
Places to Grow
Beautiful productive gardens that reconnect you with food.
Places to Retreat
Quiet spaces that offer calm, restoration and escape.
Places to Explore
Gardens rich in seasonal interest, biodiversity and discovery.
The Thinking Behind My Work
How architecture, nature and lived experience shape every garden
As an architect turned landscape designer, I've come to see gardens as far more than collections of plants. The most memorable gardens are those that shape the way we live. They invite us outdoors, bring family and friends together, create moments of quiet reflection, and foster a deeper connection with the natural world.
Over the years, I've worked with homeowners seeking more from their outdoor spaces. Some dream of productive kitchen gardens, others of beautiful places to entertain, and many simply want a sanctuary that feels as thoughtfully designed as their home. What unites them is a desire to transform underutilised spaces into places of beauty, purpose and delight.
My approach combines architectural thinking, landscape design and practical implementation to create gardens that are both beautiful and deeply functional. Gardens that evolve gracefully over time and enrich everyday life. Every Garden Sanctuary is unique, but the goal remains the same: to create outdoor spaces that people never want to leave.