About Me

Growing up in India, I was drawn to architecture and design from a very young age. Family trips to palaces, gardens, and museums across the country sparked a curiosity about how spaces influence the way we feel and interact. That early fascination led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, where I graduated eighth in the state. I went on to work with several well-known architects and landscape architects in India before moving to Australia to pursue my Master’s in Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne. I was fortunate to have received the prestigious International Postgraduate Coursework Award, a scholarship awarded by the University of Melbourne to support a part of my graduate studies. 

 

After relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, I started working as a junior landscape designer with Stringham Design Landscape Architecture. It was under the mentorship of principal landscape architect, Russel Stringham, that I was able to find my personal design philosophy while also learning how to manage projects right from conceptualization to delivering a final finished landscape. I believe that a designed landscape is in response to a conversation with the site rather than a superimposition. With over ten years of experience, I’ve contributed to more than sixty projects across the Bay Area and have found great joy in collaborating closely with homeowners to create outdoor spaces they can enjoy for years to come.

 

I now run my own practice, Menaka Rao Landscape Design, where I strive to deliver high-quality landscape design and attention to detail, keeping up with the high standards of my mentor, Russell Stringham. We still collaborate on many projects, which continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of my career.