In the hands of Hagan Binder Landscape Architects, a landscape is never just a space – it’s a legacy in the making.
From their Highlands-based studio, husband-and-wife duo Ashley Hagan Binder and Lawrence Binder design thoughtful, artful outdoor environments for discerning clients, guided by a design-first philosophy that fuses beauty, sustainability, and long-term impact.
“We’re not just picking plants,” says Ashley, the firm’s principal designer and University of Texas Masters graduate. “We’re crafting experiences – spaces that feel as natural as they are intentional.” Every project begins with a site-specific study of the land—its soil, water flow, tree canopy, and topography – ensuring each design works in harmony with nature and the client’s lifestyle.
Ashley’s design roots run deep – from building garden forts as a child to working with celebrated landscape architect Raymond Jungles in Miami.
Law, Ashley, Holland, Sterling, and Lawrence Binder
Lawrence, a medical engineer by training and entrepreneur, brings precision and problem-solving to the firm’s operations.
“Ashley’s the visionary,” he says. “I help make it happen.”
That background in medical design inspired the couple’s retail venture, Fine Tools, featuring heirloom-quality garden tools and furnishings.
“Working with doctors taught me how the right tool matters,” Lawrence says. Among their innovative designs are the patent-pending Nursery Bucket Movers and Land Plan, a digital property archive accessible via engraved brass plaques—all embodying their “For Generations” philosophy.
This blend of vision and pragmatism extends to their personal lives—they’re raising and homeschooling three children (ages 11, 10, and 2), immersing them in the daily rhythm of entrepreneurship and creativity.
The Patent Pending “Nursery Bucket Movers” – designed by HBLA to assist in easily moving nursery plants.
At any given time, Hagan Binder manages 20 to 30 commercial and residential projects in North Carolina and beyond, but they’re selective.
“There needs to be a level of respect for the vision,” Ashley says. “We’re most interested in projects where we can be truly impactful.”
While the scope varies, their values don’t. They prioritize native plants, preserve existing ecosystems when possible, and aim to restore what’s been lost.
They also host community workshops—past events have included wildflower seed mixing and hypertufa planting techniques, with pruning workshops being considered for the future—not only to educate but to connect.
“The more events we offer, the more people understand how we work,” Ashley explains. And in a small town, it gives people something meaningful to do.”
You’re invited to participate in Heritage in Stone: Make Your own Hypertufa Trough Planter, set for 4:00 P.M. Thursday, May 8 (just in time for Mothers Day). You can register on haganbinder.com. Spaces are limited.
And their definition of success?
“When someone wants to get married in a landscape we’ve designed,” Ashley smiles. “That’s the ultimate compliment. You’ve created a space people want to share with the people they love.”
Hagan Binder offers fixed-fee site consultations to help clients uncover what’s possible. To begin the conversation, contact ahb@haganbinderdesign.com.
Favorites Count: 0