- Art & Design
- Outdoor & travel
John Sharp is a pioneering designer known for his expressive, innovative landscape designs. His work balances at the intersection of art and landscape architecture, transforming outdoor spaces into dreamy, ethereal gardens that function as visual compositions. Sharp masterfully captures the poetry of nature and transforms it into sensory worlds that are both aesthetic and functional. His designs reflect a bold style and a disruptive yet poetic vision, approaching each project with a contemporary outlook and an innovative approach.
Sharp's philosophy revolves around creating outdoor spaces that are not only beautiful, but also functional and sustainable. His practice, Studio John Sharp, focuses on using outdoor space as an extension of the living area, with elements such as swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, outdoor showers, edible gardens, and entertainment spaces taking centre stage. Sharp's designs are imbued with a deep respect for nature and use organic textures and materials. He strives to create unique environments that offer an artistic, ecological and sensory experience. In 2018, Sharp founded Studio John Sharp, located in a charming bungalow in Venice Beach, California. Overlooking the ocean, the studio reflects Sharp's eclectic and artful approach to design. The workspace is filled with a collection of contemporary art, modernist furniture, sculptural objects and, of course, plants, all of which contribute to the studio's creative atmosphere. Here, he and his team of eight core members work on projects ranging from historic estates to modern private residences. 
Sharp has worked on some of California's most prestigious and iconic homes over the years. Each project is a unique expression of his vision and ability to create landscapes that enhance both the architecture of the building and the natural environment. One of John Sharp's most notable projects is the landscape design for the iconic Garcia House, designed by architect John Lautner in the Hollywood Hills. This house, also known as the ‘Spaceship House,’ was built in the 1960s and is famous for its futuristic design. When the owner decided to tackle the landscape after a decade of restoration, Sharp was brought in to breathe new life into the area. Sharp's vision for the project was inspired by a retro-futuristic sci-fi aesthetic, seeing the landscape as an extension of the spaceship-like house. A key goal was to finally realise the original swimming pool, designed by Lautner but never built. In addition, a natural transition had to be created between the house and the surrounding grounds, preserving a giant Ficus under the house. Sharp approached the project with a focus on water-conscious planting, appropriate to Los Angeles' desert climate. He used drought-tolerant plants, such as Jurassic-like specimens, and added sculptural and layered elements to visually define the landscape. The client also had an impressive collection of staghorn ferns, which inspired Sharp to design a custom-made totem installation as a central element in the garden. The transformation of the Garcia house was hailed as a masterpiece in the renovation of historic architecture, where the landscape not only reinforced Lautner's architectural vision, but also added a new, contemporary layer that brought the house into the future. 
Sharp always uses a rich mix of plants, including monsteras, philodendrons, giant birds of paradise, and Australian tree ferns
Another impressive project by Sharp is the landscape design for Richard Neutra's Hailey House, located in the Hollywood Hills. Neutra, a pioneer of modernist architecture, designed the house with a strong focus on integration with the natural environment. When the owner of the house was looking for a designer who could both maintain the architectural integrity and develop a new vision for the outdoor spaces, Sharp came into the picture. The client wanted to create a meditative, jungle-like environment that was both relaxing and inviting for outdoor activities such as dining, relaxing in a hot tub, and hosting outdoor entertainment. Sharp's approach was to transform the site's unused spaces into a lush, green oasis that evoked a sense of escape to another world. He used a rich mix of plants, including monsteras, philodendrons, giant birds of paradise, and Australian tree ferns. The shady back slope of the property was transformed into a serene, sheltered garden, while the front retained an understated, modernist design. The contrast between the classic, clean lines of the house and the lush, tropical vegetation created a unique dynamic that transformed Hailey House into a true paradise.
Sharp's work on Gerald and Betty Ford's estate in Rancho Mirage is another example of his ability to create landscapes that resonate both aesthetically and symbolically. Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States, was an inspiration for the project. Sharp wanted to contrast the palatial and refined architecture of the house, designed in a modernist style, with a landscape design that was playful and sculptural. The client owned an impressive collection of modernist architectural pottery, which played a central role in the design. Sharp created a colourful botanical story evolving through all four seasons, incorporating abundant habitat for pollinators to support the residents' eco-friendly lifestyle. The existing Ginger and Betty rose and citrus garden was carefully preserved and integrated into the new design. For this project, Sharp chose mainly native desert species, such as yucca rostrata, toncacti, Mexican fence post, and palos verde trees, which gave the landscape a powerful identity. He created an atmosphere that was relaxed, artistic yet grounded, with the house's austere architecture complemented by the whimsical and nimble elements of the landscape. Sharp describes his approach to this project as ‘more picturesque than scenic,’ striking a harmonious balance between stoicism and playful energy. 
With his interdisciplinary team and an approach that focuses on integrating art, nature and architecture, John Sharp continues to create pioneering outdoor spaces that are both visually stunning and functional. His work is a celebration of the natural world, and his landscape designs contribute to a deeper understanding of the human connection to the larger ecosystem. Through his studio and the projects he leads, Sharp continues to leave an unmistakable mark on the landscape industry, setting a new standard for how we experience and value outdoor spaces.
Photography by Sean Hazen
Text by Celien Hemelaer