the BECHT/GARCIA HOUSE
This urban residence is located adjacent to a very busy thoroughfare and across the street from a multi-story apartment building, so privacy and quietude were paramount. Additionally, since this is a corner lot there was great opportunity to design a unique front yard and entrance.
The front yard was elevated on curvilinear stone walls to eliminate sloping turf areas and to provide a space for a uniquely planted streetscape. Below the walls, swaths of Blue Salvia, Mexican Feather Grass and Coreopsis bring a splash of vibrant color to the front of this dark brick bungalow. Like a knife cutting into the grey stone walls is the grand gesture of a front walkway, constructed of several two-ton flagstone slabs, that carry you gently up to the front door. This design also served a very utilitarian purpose: While this property sits on a corner in a high-traffic area, the clients wanted us to make it less-easy for people to walk across the front yard. The wall and planting design accomplish this.
The backyard is a quiet respite from the everyday bustle of city life. A tall cedar fence helps to separate the space from the street, as does the three feet of elevation change between the city sidewalk and the fence. Centered around a large, natural flagstone patio several unique elements program this space as an oasis. A tumbling water feature brings the gentle sound of moving water to the backyard where you can lay in the custom hammock structure beneath the shade of the hardy Catalpa tree. Using the same steel pipe and cables as the hammock structure are three modern trellises where Clematis vines grow, softening the appearance of the fence and limiting views of the nearby apartment building. Above the Thyme covered flagstone patio is an elevated bistro patio, attached to the back door of the home where the homeowners sit to enjoy morning coffee and scones.