House Front before we started
Driveway before we started
|
At the
beginning:
-
typically-sized city lot;
front garden is the project area
-
steep elevation change
from street to house
-
beautiful existing quince
tree in front
-
although on a residential
street, it is a thoroughfare with little privacy
-
homeowners are 1-plant
collector and 2-do-it-yourself for certain things
-
existing soil is
extremely well drained with considerable rock, but is excellent at
maintaining slope
Existing conditions plan:
click on the plan to enlarge
 |
|
some new plants get arranged and bloom an exuberant orange |
Design concept:
A new
plan:
-
new
curved concrete steps lead visitors gently to the front porch and
private front patio in the garden.
-
An
olive tree anchors the border between the new steps and the patio.
-
Wider paths wind around the existing quince tree bed and access the back
garden through the gate.
-
The
water feature begins at the quince bed level and spills over the wall
into a rill which bisects the patio before it ends at the affectionately
named "monolith". T
-
he
owners want a piece of art that will create a barrier between them and
the street, creating privacy and focal point above a rectangle of water
below.
-
Below is a sketch of the wall as envisioned by the architect. The owners
plan to make custom weather-proof tiles to insert in selected locations
for a little whimsy as walkers pass by on the sidewalk.
construction
progress:
-
thus far a contractor has installed all of the preliminary concrete
work, providing the base for the brick & special tile facing.
-
the
owner has revised most of the stone work, creating a new stone wall
around the quince bed and created new steps.
|
new garden plan
front view from new concrete wall
front view at new stairs; note new planting |
