About us and our studio
Elisa Read Pappaterra is an internationally recognized, award-winning, licensed landscape architect based in California. A fire ecology and horticultural specialist, she focuses on creating richly botanical, sustainable, and Firewise landscapes in Southern California. Renowned in the landscape, nursery, and botanical communities, Elisa is admired for her deep thirst for plant knowledge, her appreciation for rare species, and her commitment to environmentally sensitive design. Her work embodies a holistic approach, considering all elements of a site—from natural to cultural—summed up in her philosophy of “from soil to soul.”
Elisa is the founder and principal of studio pappaterra, a firm dedicated to exploring the symbiotic connections within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), educating the public, and creating botanically artistic, environmentally appropriate landscapes in Southern California and beyond. She frequently collaborates with botanists, arborists, and fire mitigation specialists to integrate best practices for wildfire defensible space, fire prevention, and long-term landscape maintenance.
Our expertise and approach
Recent Work & Accomplishments
Professionally trained as an architect, Elisa holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from UNPHU in the Dominican Republic (1998) and a master’s degree in Metropolitan Research and Design (MR+D) from SCI-Arc in Los Angeles (2001). During her decade-long tenure at RIOS (2011-2022), Elisa contributed to notable projects such as Descanso Gardens, Palm Springs Downtown Park, the LAX Northside Master Plan, as well as numerous high-end award-winning residential landscapes.
Since 2020, Elisa has focused on Firewise landscape research and design. Through her partnership with the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, she helped create DefensibleSpace.org, a platform advocating for sustainable, Firewise practices in Southern California landscapes. As part of this initiative, Elisa provides landscape consultations to homeowners in fire-prone areas of Los Angeles County.
In 2022, Elisa was awarded an Artist-in-Residency Fellowship at the prestigious Chaumont Sur-Loire International Garden Festival in France. Her exhibit, The Garden of Reciprocity, a collaboration with RIOS, was an artistic play of materials and plants that encouraged reflection and a renewed communion with nature. This visionary design won top honors as the best among the garden’s exhibits for its lush botanical diversity and forward-thinking approach.
studio pappaterra opened its doors in 2022 with a vision to explore symbiotic connections within the Wild-Urban Interface (WUI) and to create artistic yet environmentally appropriate botanical gardens in Southern California and beyond. A full service landscape design firm, we love collaborating with clients, and consultants to create unique, artistic, site specific projects that enhance value for all users
Our Team
Photography credit Bill Tatham
We’re a passionate team made stronger by our diverse backgrounds and expertise. Our team of talented designers, visionaries and dreamers is committed to excellence. We’re proud to collaborate with our clients, architects, artists, builders, nurseries, environmental advocates, non-profits, and developers to create meaningful, immersive and experiential spaces that foster habitat, community and connections.
Our Services
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We are a full service landscape architecture and design firm. We can develop projects from site analysis, thru design, permitting, bidding, construction administration and landscape curatorial services.
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We are one of the leading experts in the design and fire ecology field for Southern California. Actively engaging in practice and thought leadership in fire-wise research, consultation, and design implementation. Our connections in the environmental and wildfire fields allow us to provide for your project design guided by the best resources available.
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We are well known in the landscape, nursery, and horticultural world for our insatiable thirst for plant knowledge, appreciation for rare plants and our focus for environmentally sensitive design. Our gardens are botanically rich and horticulturally appropriate.
