Fendalton
Specialist expertise
We have specialist expertise for complex sites
Dan Rutherford brings a rare combination of award-winning landscape design, construction experience, and geology-based understanding.
With more than 30 years’ experience in landscape design and construction, and a background in geology, Dan brings a unique understanding of how land behaves. He assesses complex site conditions from both a practical and design-led perspective, creating landscapes that respond thoughtfully to the opportunities and constraints of each site. His experience also includes land damage assessment and site investigation work for leading engineering consultancies, including Engeo and Tonkin + Taylor.
This technical understanding allows us to identify problems early and develop solutions that are able to be constructed successfully and integrated into the wider landscape.
Specialist expertise
Hillside landscape design and land stabilisation
We specialise in hillside landscapes — transforming steep, complex sites into beautiful, usable outdoor spaces that feel natural, connected, and carefully settled into the land.
Through well-resolved access, retaining, level changes, drainage, planting, and construction detailing, we create outdoor areas that are practical to use and visually refined. The aim is not simply to hold the land back, but to shape it into spaces that look attractive, function well, and feel as though they belong.
Our approach often reduces the need for extensive retaining by working with the site rather than forcing a standard solution onto it. By understanding slope, soil conditions, water movement, wind exposure, and buildability, we can create more efficient and considered outcomes.
Dan’s background in geology and long experience on Christchurch’s Port Hills gives Rutherford Landscapes an unusual ability to combine technical problem-solving with strong landscape design. The result is work that is structurally considered, highly functional, and still genuinely beautiful.
Our retaining and stabilisation work has proven resilient through Canterbury’s earthquakes, with structures remaining intact in heavily affected areas of Christchurch’s Port Hills, including Sumner, Scarborough, and Cashmere.
Talk to us about your project.
Specialist expertise
Landscape design for wind-exposed and coastal sites
Hillside, coastal, and new subdivision sites are often highly exposed to wind. Sheltered spaces are planned and integrated into all our garden designs from the outset. We analyse where the sun and wind move across the site, allowing us to manage exposure and position spaces accordingly.
Using tools such as 3D modelling, together with practical site experience, we examine airflow—including turbulence, wind concentration, and wind shear—to understand how wind moves through the landscape. This allows us to guide and reduce wind, creating sheltered outdoor areas that remain usable and comfortable. with planting selected specifically for exposed and coastal conditions.
Talk to us about your project.
Specialist expertise
Designing for privacy and views
In built-up environments, privacy depends on the careful management of sightlines. Outdoor living areas are positioned to reduce overlooking and create a comfortable sense of separation without compromising light, openness or connection to desirable views.
Planting is used to blur boundaries and connect hard landscaping with the garden’s softer greener spaces. Where possible, we maintain a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape, borrowing views and creating a greater sense of space beyond the boundaries of the property.
Talk to us about your project.
Specialist expertise
Outdoor rooms, pools and spas
Pools, spas and outdoor rooms are designed as a natural extension of the home. Their position and relationship to outdoor kitchens, dining and entertaining areas, shelter structures and the wider garden are carefully considered in relation to the architecture, outlook, sun, wind and privacy.
Careful attention is given to movement between the house and garden, council compliance and safety, so the spaces feel intuitive and effortless to use. Layered planting, refined materials and integrated hard landscaping create outdoor environments that feel cohesive, sheltered and naturally connected to their surroundings.
Whether intended for entertaining, family life or quiet retreat, each space is designed to be beautiful, functional and enduring.
