ABOUT DESIGNINTENT

At Designintent, our process is iterative, exploratory, constantly improving, and comprehensive. It is a response to both the client’s vision as the end user, and of the latest sustainable products available to enhance the project.

Delving into the design process is done through a series of sketches, diagrams, 3D SketchUp models and image boards. Our multi-pronged approach allows for a full exploration and for creative outcomes. We listen carefully to our client’s challenges, both as end-user and as sponsor - to their budgetary challenges. Sometimes the solution requires bridging the gap between designer and contractor early on, or adding new suppliers who have the right product.

This philosophy of including the client in the design process was engrained in Ruhina while in graduate school. This is a sustainable approach leading to her work being well cared for and enjoyed by the owner and this post-modern philosophy has been her mainstay, whether it is residential or commercial work. Ruhina is also deeply influenced by art, industrial design and architecture, adding touches where possible in her 130+ completed jobs.

More of Ruhina's Story

After graduating with an engineering degree in 1994, Ruhina started her career in the design world working at Oikos landscape architects. Her first job was a five-acre residence in Kerala, a south Indian state known for its lush backwaters and beautiful beaches. This project and several campus plans in the Silicon Valley of India, inspired her to apply to graduate school in the US. While at Oikos, she also worked with architects from Germany, who encouraged her to apply for an internship in Germany. This trip opened her mind to Bauhaus architecture and historic gardens at a grand scale. She traveled extensively in Germany, visiting palace gardens, urban squares, and botanic parks, which have influenced her work greatly.

After graduate school where she studied Landscape Architecture and City & Regional Planning, she moved to Houston, TX. She worked at SWA Group, on streetscapes, and urban parks. This gave her experience in taking a project from concept to construction and led to her next job working on managing projects for a bio-medical lab. DSL-Beckman Coulter was a vast step forward in interior / exterior construction and her work included selecting an architect for a multi-million-dollar home, as owner’s representative. This involved several years of on-site construction supervision, while design was ongoing on the fast-track job. Working across from landscape architect Peter Walker, and architect Juan Miro were memorable moments for her. In 2010 Ruhina started DesignIntent.

The meaning of Design Intent was derived from a BBC program on architecture which she enjoyed watching with her mom. DesignIntent, is defined as: "A detailed technical description of the ideas, concepts, and criteria defined by the building owner to be important. It should include the functional and environmental needs of the facility. The design intent is developed by the design team from descriptions provided by the building owner.

Climate-Resilient Landscape Design Expertise

Ruhina Surendran’s work reflects a deep understanding of landscape architecture as a long-term environmental and structural system, particularly within the climate conditions of California’s Wildland-Urban Interface and water-limited regions. With a foundation in civil engineering and extensive experience in grading, permitting, and construction coordination, she approaches each project with careful attention to site hydrology, defensible space planning, and microclimate performance. Her landscapes are designed to reduce wildfire vulnerability, improve water efficiency, and enhance long-term ecological stability while maintaining a refined and architecturally integrated aesthetic.

As a speaker on climate-responsive and wildfire-prepared landscape design for professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other industry groups, Ruhina brings a rigorous, site-specific approach to estate and residential projects throughout Atherton, Woodside, Hillsborough, and the surrounding Bay Area. She works closely with architects and design teams from early site planning through construction, ensuring that the landscape contributes meaningfully to the performance, longevity, and environmental resilience of the property. Her work is grounded in the belief that well-designed landscapes not only complement architecture but also protect and strengthen the site itself over time.