DESIGN & ARCHTIECTURE

GARDEN GLAMOUR

Adam Kober’s landscapes are immersive compositions where emotion meets elegance, transforming outdoor spaces into soulful expressions of place, craft, and timeless beauty.

JESSICA HALL

In the elevated world of luxury design, where detail is devotion and storytelling is strategy, Adam Kober stands at the intersection of horticulture and high art. As Founding Principal of Kober Design Group, the Newport Beach-based studio known for its cinematic landscapes, Kober has cultivated a reputation for outdoor environments that don’t just complement architecture—they complete it.

“Landscape is the first touchpoint of a property,” Kober shares. “Before a guest steps through the front door, the garden has already set the tone.” That tone, in Kober’s work, is always intentional: graceful, layered, and emotionally resonant.

Prior to launching his firm in 2021, Kober spent years shaping iconic spaces at Lifescapes International, imprinting his design language on high-profile destinations like the Palms Casino Resort and Encore Boston Harbor. But founding Kober Design Group offered a chance to refine his vision. “The shift to my own practice was about freedom—creative freedom, but also the ability to slow down and obsess over the details that matter,” he says.

And details are where Kober thrives. Whether sourcing 150-year-old olive trees from a private orchard or designing a limestone fountain custom-carved for a single courtyard, his process is one of total curation. “True luxury lies in specificity,” he explains. “When I choose a material—stone, bronze, hand-glazed tile—it’s because it speaks to the site, the architecture, and the story we
want to tell.”

That story changes with context. Kober Design Group’s projects span from elite residential compounds to five-star resorts and entertainment landmarks. But no matter the typology, his approach is rooted in sensory experience. “We design for movement,” he notes. “Not just physically, but emotionally. The path through a garden should feel like a narrative—one of discovery, rest, and awe.”

Perhaps no project better illustrates this philosophy than his long-standing commission at Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens, where Kober has imagined 26 thematic installations, including celebrated holiday displays. “Reimagining an icon takes reverence and risk,” he says. “You want to honor tradition while inviting people to see it anew.”

Now based in Newport Beach, Kober draws from the quiet opulence of coastal California—sun-bleached textures, sculptural botanicals, an ease that belies rigor. “There’s an elegance here that’s informed by nature,” he says. “That influences everything—from our palettes to the rhythm of our spaces.”

At the core of Kober Design Group is a culture of craftsmanship and collaboration. “We work with creatives of all disciplines including stone carvers, blacksmiths, glass artisans, and speciality horticulturalists. It’s a collective,” Kober says. He also sees mentorship as a cornerstone of the studio. “You can’t create soulful work in a vacuum. The more voices at the table, the richer the result.”

Looking ahead, Kober is energized by clients who are seeking more than visual spectacle. “People are craving authenticity,” he says. “They want spaces that age well, that respond to climate, that feel personal. Luxury today isn’t loud—it’s thoughtful.”

When asked how he defines a successful landscape, Kober pauses. “It should feel inevitable,” he replies. “As if it’s always been there—quietly elevating the architecture, the experience, and the memory of the place.”

In a world of instant gratification, Adam Kober’s landscapes are a masterclass in patience, poetry, and place. And for the discerning clientele, that sense of cultivated timelessness is not just appreciated—it’s expected.