The Meaning
Respire: to inhale and exhale air for the purpose of maintaining life; breathe.
Respiration is an essential process for individual cells, as well as plants, animals, and entire ecosystems. Every living thing must respire to survive, and enhancing the quality of that respiration makes it possible to move from surviving to thriving.
The Mission
Respire Gardens aims to facilitate the quality exchange of breath between people and their environment. All offerings aspire to engage the senses and promote presence in the landscape, creating opportunities for mental restoration and healthy respiration. This deeply beneficial breath is meant to encourage a notion of symbiosis or harmony, where people feel at home in their natural surroundings. The gardens and experiences are designed to reinspire, cultivating a balance of contentment and discovery, observation and engagement, solitude and connection.
The Principles
Co-creation, taking into account the dynamic nature of each client’s needs and preferences, as well as the opportunities presented by the landscape.
Convergence of science and art, where every element has an intended purpose and an aesthetically pleasing design.
Restorative design, envisioning spaces where humans are an integral part of the collective ecosystem.
The Designer
Lauren Vukicevich is a California-based designer with a diverse educational and experiential background. Her studies in environmental horticulture have provided the skills necessary to design functional landscapes, from concept sketches to calculations and detailed plan documentation. Research in psychology has allowed her to understand the patterns of people, and the effects of specific design elements on well-being. Her training in yoga and meditation has revealed a key perspective on the way humans utilize both movement and stillness within a garden.
Lauren has earned a degree in Landscape Design, is a Qualified Water-Efficient Landscaper, and has an additional certificate in Permaculture Design. She has an innate curiosity for plants, which has developed into deeper knowledge through professional gardening and nursery work. Her attention to detail is paralleled by an ability to step back and see the holistic vision, maintaining a cohesive flow through all phases of design. Through building meaningful client relationships, she strives for a mutually fulfilling process, as well as a beautiful result.
