This project presented the challenge of creating usable active spaces for a young couple and their children in both the front and back yards while maintaining privacy and the “open” frontage required by the homeowner’s association. In the front yard, a lawn play area is created by raising the topography and retaining it behind a low wall, in front of which are planted sycamore trees and groundcover manzanita. This provides a safe, private play area while animating the private-public interface. Opposite a long wood bench, a water feature acts as a focal point at the entrance to the house. In contrast to the more public feeling of the front yard, the back yard is focused inwards, with its lush plantings and screens of bamboo on three sides of the garden. Existing palm and dragon trees are incorporated into the new landscape. An existing pool was renovated, and a new soaring arbor provides a shady place for family gatherings. Unifying the backyard, strips of grass break up the plane of the concrete patio. An intimate deck on the side of the house provides a serene space for outdoor showers.
Location: Pacific Palisades, CA