This garden originally consisted of levels of brickwork and flotsam and jetsam to maintain grades and planting beds. The clients wanted an open concept with places for solitary time, entertaining, a play area for kids (basketball court to be revealed later), and for the dog. The continuous flow from the house to the deck allows for more space at the same level. The dining area outside the kitchen has restaurant-style heaters in the overhang. Vertical beam screens lead one’s eye to the living room of the garden with concrete planters and floating benches large enough to lay on or seat friends around the fire. This area has a barbecue so the chef can join the party, along with a concrete plinth designed for trays of food or for sitting near the barbecue. When styled with planters it acts as a screen for the lower hot tub area. Light-colored materials make the garden feel open while the darker fence grounds the space and creates a backdrop for lush plantings. The translucent green house material designed in Shoji style is something we were most excited about, having seen it used in industrial applications on larger buildings. It becomes an art piece as it reveals shadows that emerge in the morning and change throughout the day. The client’s use of pillows, vases, and planters makes the space personal and cozy. The ADU, used as an office, has an outdoor shower on the wall for hot tub rinse off. All sorts of grading magic is under the deck, a 5’ vault for the hot tub and a raised foundation for the ADU. The important part is that it looks like seamless levels from one section of the garden to the next.
Photography ©2023/2024 Caitlin Atkinson and Growsgreen