In the heart of El Paso, TX, just outside the city's historic district, a crumbling backyard oasis faced a second chance—thanks to George Ocampo, Pete Lugo, and the team at GO Designs. What started as a complex renovation of a failed poolscape became a masterclass in resilience, thoughtful engineering, and craftsmanship built to endure.
“They were in dire straits when I met them,” Ocampo recalls of his first meeting with the homeowners. “The pool was cracking, the retaining walls were failing, and the house itself had already started to pull away. But I knew we could fix it—and not just patch it. We could make it better than ever.”
The original installation—a 15-year-old pool with a negative edge design—had been leaking for over five years. Structural cracks ran through the pool and surrounding hardscaping. The negative edge had collapsed. Worse still, poor drainage and improperly installed decking had caused serious erosion, compromising the home’s foundation.
The solution would require more than surface-level fixes. GO Designs approached the project as a full restoration—not just of appearance, but of integrity. Working closely with structural engineers, Ocampo and his team took the hard road: cutting away compromised walls, repouring structural concrete, and reinforcing the entire site from the ground up.
“Originally I thought we could support the pool with piers,” Ocampo explains, “but the engineers disagreed. So, we cut the pool—literally in half—and put it back together, better and stronger.”
This project wasn’t just about rebuilding—it was about reimagining. GO Designs created a whole new way to access and stabilize the sloped terrain, combining innovative design with durable materials chosen not only for their beauty, but also for their ability to withstand El Paso’s harsh desert conditions.
Tumbled travertine was used for texture and slip-resistance, complemented by rock salt concrete to balance visual appeal and budget. For retaining walls and veneers, the team leaned into the local vernacular, using rip rock—a humble regional material typically overlooked for high-end residential work.
“We make it look good,” Ocampo says. “Rip rock is everywhere in El Paso, but we’ve learned how to work it, shape it, and lay it with the same level of artistry as higher-end stone.”
Moss Rock boulders from Oklahoma and Arkansas added weight, texture, and character—while cleverly doubling as erosion control and natural dry riverbeds.
The entire design is an elegant example of beauty born from function. Arched planters were used not just for aesthetics, but because curved walls provide greater structural strength than straight ones. Drainage systems were buried and extended well beyond the property to avoid future erosion. Every planter, terrace, and wall was shaped with purpose—and with time in mind.
“The landscaping is the jewelry,” says Ocampo. “But the bones underneath are what will keep this place standing for the next 50 years at least.”
With a project timeline spanning several years, GO Designs broke the work into manageable phases to accommodate the client’s budget—without ever compromising quality.
“We’re not in an affluent market,” Ocampo explains. “So, we do master planning and phase execution. That way, clients don’t have to sacrifice the integrity of the build. We always say—if you’re going to do it, do it to last.”
Ocampo’s connection to his work is deeply personal. Every boulder set, every planter shaped, every line drawn in 3D design software reflects not just technical precision, but pride.
“It’s theirs, but it’s ours too,” he says.
“We put our heart into it. We don’t walk away from a job until the client is smiling—and until we know we’ve delivered something that will stand the test of time.”
The final product is a refined, cohesive outdoor environment that blends seamlessly into the mountainside. It’s a project born from failure—and transformed into something stronger, more intentional, and timeless.
In a world of quick fixes and fleeting trends, GO Designs offers something different: quality built to endure.
“When people choose us, we don’t take that lightly,” Ocampo says. “It’s their money, their home. They deserve to get what they paid for—and more.”
Photo: GO Designs
Learn More: George & Lori Ocampo/Pete Lugo
GO Designs
El Paso, TX
george@godesigns.com
Read the article in the digital issue here.