Robert J. Bell, President

 

ABOUT ROBERT J. BELL, RLA

Robert (Bob) Bell grew up gardening and designing in Easton, Maryland on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay.  As a child Bob enjoyed the natural world and had varied interests from growing herbs to Renaissance architecture. He saw gardens in England, France, and Barbados on trips which inspired him to create lush, eclectic gardens at home. An avid sailor, traveler, and plantsman, he began creating and maintaining gardens for a local properties in high school with a focus on Tidewater Maryland’s native and adapted species.  

After graduating from Cornell University with a B.S. in landscape architecture, Bob moved to Washington, D.C to work with landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, known for their introduction of dramatic sweeps of ornamental grasses and perennials to American gardens. Notable projects he managed at Oehme, van Sweden included the Americana Manhasset shopping center, Manhasset, NY, the National World War Two Memorial in Washington, DC,  the US Embassy compounds in Bridgetown, Barbados, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Kathmandu, Nepal and many residences in the Hamptons, NY, Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, FL.


In 2007 Bob left Oehme, van Sweden to start his own landscape architecture firm.  His style pairs lush and exuberant plantings with classically detailed hardscape elements inspired by Shaker design and Art Moderne.  Bob believes every garden is unique and requires meticulous understanding of the client’s desires, the site, and the local climate to be a beautiful and sustainable long-term success. He loves focusing on design details with many custom-designed lights, metalwork, stonework a part of most projects.

Bob was named an Elle Decor Rising Star for 2026, serves on the Cornell CALS Alumni Board of Directors and the Institute of Classical Art & Architecture's Washington-Mid Atlantic Chapter Board of Directors.

ABOUT BELL DESIGN, INC.

Bell Design, Inc. is a nationally recognized landscape architecture firm with offices in Washington, DC; Southampton, NY; and Palm Beach, FL. The studio blends a contemporary aesthetic with classical design principles, creating seamless compositions across historic estates, modern residences, institutional campuses, and hospitality environments. Our work is defined by multi‑season beauty, practicality, and environmentally sensitive design, supported by innovative materials, precise craftsmanship, and thoughtful plant selection.

The firm’s projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, Cottages & Gardens, Elle Décor, Forbes, Luxe, Martha Stewart, Town & Country, Veranda, Vogue, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

Expertise & Approach

Bell Design specializes in:

  • Estate master planning

  • Historic landscape preservation and adaptive reuse

  • Hospitality and institutional landscapes

  • Townhouse and urban gardens

  • Environmental adaptation and restoration

The firm is known for its deep respect for place, craft, and climate, collaborating with local artisans and craftspeople to create custom details that honor regional traditions.

Selected Projects

Residential Communities & Estates

  • Lost Tree Village Golf Cottages — North Palm Beach, FL

  • Residences in Gulf Stream, Lake Worth, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington & West Palm Beach, FL

  • Residences in Gibson Island, Oxford & St. Michaels, MD

  • Residences in Glen Cove, Oyster Bay, Sag Harbor & Southampton, NY

  • Residence — Nantucket, MA

  • Residence — John’s Island, SC

  • Residence — Charlottesville, VA

  • Residence — Los Angeles, CA

  • Residence — Tahoe, NV

  • Residence — Park City, UT

  • Residences — Washington, DC

Public, Institutional & Hospitality

  • Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2022 and 2026 — Palm Beach, FL

  • Capital Area Food Bank Campus — Washington, DC

  • Georgetown University — Washington, DC

  • George Washington University — Washington, DC

  • German Embassy Campus — Washington, DC

  • Ringgold‑Carroll House (NRHP) — Washington, DC

  • The Riggs Hotel — Washington, DC

A National Practice Rooted in Craft

With current and recent projects in Tahoe, Palm Beach, Oxford, Southampton, Incline Village, Charleston, and Deer Valley, Bell Design continues to shape landscapes across the country—each one grounded in horticultural expertise, architectural clarity, and a commitment to enduring beauty,


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