About Us
Our Team
Kimberly Emmen, PLA, ASLA
Principal, Landscape Architect
Kimberly’s early years in Idaho, surrounded by mountains and rivers, instilled a deep connection to nature. This upbringing fostered a profound curiosity about the natural world and an appreciation for the impact outdoor spaces have on our lives, health and well-being, extending beyond mere recreation. These formative experiences ultimately led her to a fulfilling career transition into Landscape Architecture.
The decision to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture marked a pivotal moment in her life. She left her beloved Idaho home and relocated to San Luis Obispo, California, a move driven by the singular goal of attending the most esteemed Bachelor's degree program west of the Mississippi: California Polytechnic State University’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program. This rigorous and comprehensive program provided her with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and design sensibilities necessary to translate her passion into a profession.
Kimberly graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BLA in 2018 and gained invaluable experience working with licensed landscape architects on diverse projects. These included commercial, multi-family, and single-family residential properties located along California's Central Coast, spanning from the wine country of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, through the beach communities of Los Osos and Morro Bay, to the iconic coastal areas of Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Malibu.
In 2020, she founded Harmony Landscape Design in Santa Barbara, collaborating with licensed landscape contractors to assist homeowners from design conceptualization to construction completion, enhancing her knowledge and skills with direct client engagement.
Returning to Idaho in 2025, to be closer to her growing family, Kimberly secured her Idaho Landscape Architect license and launched Ecoterra Landscape Design, a full-service landscape architecture firm dedicated to contemporary, ecological design principles.
Assistant Designer, 3D Specialist
Marcus Emmen
Marcus Emmen is an assistant designer and drafting technologist from Boise, Idaho, whose love for the outdoors runs deep in both his family roots and his professional life. Growing up in the wide-open spaces of Idaho, he spent his childhood building fence lines on ranches with his grandfather and exploring Idaho’s rivers and mountains through hunting and fishing trips. Marcus’ mother made sure weekends were filled with camping trips that deepened his appreciation for the quiet beauty and balance of the natural world.
After graduating from Vallivue High School, Marcus studied Drafting Technologies at the College of Western Idaho and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. That led him to a career as a lead CAD engineer at a stone fabrication plant on California’s Central Coast, where he spent eight years refining technical precision and design sensibilities. Eventually, Marcus returned to Idaho to study biology—seeking to understand not just how to build within nature, but how to build with it.
As a vital member of our landscape architecture team, Marcus combines the precision of drafting with the artistry of the natural world. He develops landscape plans and brings designs to life with photorealistic 3D renderings. His goal is simple: to create spaces that bring people peace, connection, and a sense of calm amidst the demands of modern life. Every design is guided by a belief that landscapes aren’t just scenery—they’re sanctuaries that remind us to slow down, breathe, and feel at home in the world around us.