Sierra Madre Japanese Garden

Swimming Pool Construction
Sierra Madre

There is a lot going on in this yard but the chaus it is calmed by the value (masses) of water, greenery, and consistent paving and use of similar materials.

Harmony in Landscape Design
This project exemplifies harmony through its distinct and identifiable elements, making it an excellent example of how various components can work together to create a cohesive landscape. While harmony often evokes a subliminal sense of balance that is hard to pinpoint, this project clearly demonstrates how harmony is achieved.

Consistency in Style: The landscape maintains a consistent style influenced by Japanese garden design, which is evident in the use of materials, plant choices, and structural elements.

Repetition: Repetition plays a key role in establishing harmony. The repeated use of stones, rocks, and concrete, along with recurring plant materials like hedges and subtle groupings of similar plants, creates a rhythmic pattern throughout the landscape.

Balance and Proportion: The design achieves balance through carefully placed elements. The hedge surrounding the yard provides a gentle frame that balances the space. Bougainvillea is strategically positioned at opposite ends of the yard, and plant groupings are subtly repeated. Key features like the low pond, gentle stream, spa, and pergola transition smoothly in scale, with each element stepping up in size and dominance. This progression feels natural and proportionate, avoiding any jarring contrasts.

Unity: The yard’s unity is established by the consistent use of hedges, which form a mass that gently frames the entire space. The coordinated colors of the hedge, lawn, and junipers around the periphery work like a chorus, subtly blending all elements into a cohesive whole.

Material and Color Coordination: The landscape uses a unified palette of stone and rock, applied in various forms throughout. Flagstone is a key material, featured as stepping stones, coping, and stacked stone on raised bond beams and spa walls. The stone also appears in the steppers leading to the Japanese-style pavilion, where the colors of concrete, stone, and pavilion posts blend harmoniously with the roof and the water features, creating a seamless flow of color and texture.

Smooth Transitions and Connections: The design leads visitors on a visual journey, guiding movement through the yard. Stepping stones in the lawn direct toward a gentle waterfall, followed by steps, and then onto a deck and spa, all linked by the consistent use of stone in the coping and throughout. The journey continues with steppers leading to the pavilion, effectively connecting all elements. The reflective water of the pool adds a soft, calming effect, enhancing the harmony between various landscape features.
Despite the complexity and abundance of elements, the design is balanced and unified by the masses of water, greenery, and the consistent use of materials. This sense of order and calm, despite the variety, is a testament to the harmonious composition of the landscape.

Vision: The clients envisioned a pool and spa that would seamlessly extend the Japanese-style landscape they had cultivated throughout their home and yard. However, the existing yard presented a challenge with its slope. The house, featuring large windows and a small patio, looked up toward the sloped landscape. Previous designs attempted to level the pool area, but they fell short; the water was not visible from key vantage points, and the designs appeared chaotic and disconnected, failing to capture the essence of the Japanese aesthetic.

Our approach focused on preserving the natural slope while enhancing the view from the lower end of the yard, which was crucial to the overall experience. We introduced a multi-level design that carefully stepped up the landscape, creating a series of elevated areas that allowed the pool to remain visible from the lower portions of the yard. This design not only maintained visual access to the water but also invited visitors on a thoughtfully curated journey through the space. Each level provided new perspectives, subtle surprises, and moments of discovery, leading up to the back of the yard in a harmonious flow.

The result was a landscape that captured the tranquil and balanced spirit of Japanese gardens, integrating water, greenery, and structure in a way that felt both natural and intentional. This thoughtful and cohesive design was recognized with the Best Design Build award in Southern California from the California Landscape Contractors Association, celebrating its success in blending beauty, functionality, and the clients’ vision.