“Dick Turner was my first lecturer.Within ten minutes, I realized thatthis was for me,” Suzman says of hisnatural aptitude for plant identifica-tion, which he credits to growing upin horticulturally rich South Africa. Bythe late 1980s, when UC Berkeleywas ready to accept him into their full-time program, Suzman wasalready busy at work with a number of Bay Area clients.

Suzman started hiring and building his practice, foundingStephen Suzman Design in 1984 and Suzman Design Associatesin 1992, both based in San Francisco. The company grew, as didthe size and scale of Suzman’s projects. To this day at Suzman &Cole Design Associates (SCDA), which he has helmed with ToddCole as Principal/CEO since joining forces in 2003, their clientelemay be based in the greater Bay Area, but also hails from as far andwide as Martha’s Vineyard, Paris, Dorset, Indonesia, and Hawaii.

“Most of our projects last for over a year,” he says of his workwith Cole. “We do small and large projects, anything from a con-sultation to a five-year project. If it’s interesting, we’ll certainly lookat it. We are deliberately not iconic in our design philosophy,” Suzman explains. “We like to use site-specificdesign that is appropriate to the architecture ofthe building, and we like the clients’ personalpreferences, needs, and taste to determine theprogram. To that end, the client’s colors andpreferences are considered, and while we guidethe direction and overall style of a homeowner’sgarden, we always recognize that the gardenbelongs to the client and not to the designer.”

But even when a project is drawing to aclose, it’s evident in Suzman’s caring eye as it

sweeps the landscape, “that a gardenis never complete.”

That passionate care extends tothe boards of two organizations onwhich Suzman sits. One, Art forHealing, works to add paintingsand artwork to hospitals and otherplaces of healing. “I believe strongly

in art and gardens for healing purposes,” he explains. “It has beenproven that patients get better faster with access to a garden or art-work.” Suzman is also involved with the Northern CaliforniaChapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture, which offers lec-tures, tours, and trips to all destinations from Sweden to theDeep South, all geared toward learning about art and architecture,and classical form and design. But fear not if you consider your-self a novice in any of the above. “We welcome new people to join,we welcome them with open arms,” Suzman assures. �

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32 GENTRYDesign | SUMMER 2010

THE NEXT CHAPTERLook for more from Suzman & Cole’s designs thisAugust, with the release of Perspectives on DesignCalifornia from Panache Partners LLC. Vice President/

Senior Publisher Carla Bowers says,“Suzman & Cole Design Associatesopens Perspectives on DesignCalifornia’s final chapter, Living theElements, by focusing on the cre-ation of breathtaking outdoor livingspaces. Principals Stephen Suzmanand Todd Cole share some of theirfinest designs: beautiful and func-tional, natural yet artistic, carefullyplanned and dynamic.”

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