Los Angeles Backyard

A historical reinterpretation of a backyard for a mid-century modern residence on a hill.

This redesigned backyard expands the communal living space of a 1950s house for its inhabitants and guests. Drawing inspiration from original photographs of the house captured by photographer Julius Shulman, our landscape design contrasts the rectilinear forms of the architecture with sinuous low brick retaining walls that extend the existing paving from interior to exterior and blend softscape with hardscape.  These playful lines in the landscape frame an existing pool & sauna addition, define an area for outdoor dining, and draw one’s attention out toward a view of an ever-shifting urban landscape.