This project was for a client in Point Loma with a beautiful 3-story (+ rooftop deck on the 4th story) modern style house. Their existing backyard had awkward unaesthetic areas with an uneven concrete ramp on the West side and an unstable old railroad-tie stairway in the main backyard area to meet their elevation changes. They had a substantial amount of existing planter block walls that were functioning as both planters and the overall structure of the backyard, which they wanted to preserve.
The architecture of the house has a nautical look, and Point Loma itself has a sense of water, surrounded by both the bay and the ocean. These ideas seeded the new landscape concept. The new layout included demolishing and redesigning two new stairways to subtly replicate ocean waves. The main stairwell uses elongated 'S' wave-like floating steps with strip lighting underneath that makes the lines glow at night, becoming the main feature of the entire yard.
Other elements include large 3' concrete squares with 'Dymondia' groundcover between them, an 18" seat-wall planter, horizontal Borneo Mahogany fencing wrapping the yard, two crushed stone colors (gold and dark gray), and plantings such as 'Electric-Pink' and 'Red Sister' Cordylines, Silver Sheen Pittosporum, 'Fishhook' Senecio, and 'Prostrate' Rosemary. This project captures every aspect of what I love about landscape design, avant-garde, motif-driven, and a calm healing vibration.
Landscape design plan
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