{Robert Royston: Source}
Robert Royston, a beloved San Francisco Bay Area landscape architect, died in his
Robert N. Royston (b. 1918) was one of
Royston was born in
While working his way through college, Royston was employed part-time in the office of Thomas Church and upon graduation in 1940 became a full-time employee. At the time Church was expanding his practice, which had been centered primarily on residential gardens, to include the design of larger-scale planned residential communities. Young Royston was given major responsibilities on such
With the outbreak of WWII, Royston volunteered for the Navy and served as a junior officer in the Pacific theatre. In his spare time aboard ship, Royston experimented with design ideas, building models of residential gardens and creating jewelry out of scrap materials. In 1945 Royston returned to the Bay Area and accepted Garrett Eckbo’s invitation to form a partnership with him and landscape architect Edward Williams. The new firm, Eckbo, Royston, and Williams, eventually established offices in
{Marin Art & Garden Show: Source}
In 1947, Royston accepted a teaching position at the
Royston’s early professional work was concentrated in
{From left to right: Garret Eckbo, Francis Dean, Edward Williams, and Robert Royston: Source}
In dealing with more complex projects such as planned residential communities, Royston developed early in his practice his concept of the “landscape matrix,” which he defines as “the linking of open space as a continuous system throughout the community establishing a strong framework whereby communities are controlled and given form.” An early application of the landscape matrix was the plan for a 258-acre cooperative housing project, Ladera (1946), near
Royston’s innovative park work also began during the 1950s. His first major commission was the Standard Oil Rod and Gun Club (1950) located at the Standard Oil Refinery near Point
{St. Mary's Square by Robert Royston: Source}
In 1958, Royston amicably left the firm of Eckbo, Royston, Williams, and formed a new professional office with Asa Hanamoto. The firm developed into Royston, Hanamoto, Alley and Abey (RHAA) which is still in existence today.
Robert Royston was the recipient of many professional honors, including Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, The American
"He had a way of enjoying the moment," said his son, Curtis Royston. "There was no anxiety about the past or the future. It was, 'We're here today. It's a beautiful day. Let's move forward.' "