South Pasadena Craftsman

Landscape Construction
South Pasadena

DISTANCE
This project guides you through different “rooms” in the yard, each leading to unique destinations. The rooms are created by the use of seat walls, which make you feel like you are in a controlled space but not enclosed. There is a deck off the house with stairs leading to the dining area. From the dining area, a path leads to a distant fire pit. This path disappears into the landscape, creating curiosity and a sense of adventure because you don’t know where it leads. Eventually, the path guides you to the client’s office, which is out of sight.

The path, visible next to the lawns and disappearing into planters, is much more interesting than a path that looks like a track around a playing field. The meandering journey feels longer and gives a sense of largeness. The lawn, which is the biggest value in the yard, gets smaller as it fades into the distance, creating an optical illusion of depth. Using void and mass, where the lawn (void) directs your eyes to the seat wall (mass), contributes to the linear perspective of converging lines that appear to come closer together as they recede into the distance.
By carefully considering distance and depth, this yard creates a dynamic and engaging space. The varied distances between different elements, such as the fire pit, dining area, and office, enhance the sense of exploration and discovery. The depth created by the interplay of lines, voids, and masses not only adds visual interest but also makes the yard feel more expansive and inviting.

VISION
The client’s vision was primarily focused on function. They desired a more natural landscape that complemented the large oak tree. The house, a true craftsman design inside and out, needed this style carried into the yard. They wanted a dining area, a large fire pit to accommodate their large family, seating areas, and a spacious yard for their grandchildren to play in.

ACCOMPLISHING THE VISION
A deck off the family room expanded the indoor space, providing seating to enjoy the yard without entering it. The dining area is strategically placed near the kitchen and BBQ for convenience. A distant fire pit encourages people to explore the yard and view it from different perspectives. A decomposed granite path with a steel header and a plasticized binder was installed to lead visitors through the yard, creating movement and connection. The seat walls, all of the same build, created a relationship and balance between the various areas.
The craftsman style is demonstrated in the stone seat walls and pilasters with concrete caps, as well as the woodwork and pavers. The shapes and colors all feel at home in this yard with this house, orchestrating all these elements into a harmonious design.