The objective with this front yard design was to reign in an overgrown landscape that had rendered the space inaccessible, and create a tranquil outdoor living environment.   With privacy as a top priority street exposure to the south was eliminated by 6 foot high horizontal fencing matched with a parallel screen of black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra). To the east a screen of Silver Sheen (Pittisporum tenuifolium) was planted .

The shape and slope of the yard dictated a bold organization of overlapping planes separated by a seat wall.   The conversation area floats on a geometric layout of square concrete pavers and is anchored with couches and a fire pit.  The upper plane is navigated by a permeable gravel path where two counter balanced focal points (A Happy Buddha and a custom Water Feature) are positioned.

The organization and order create a calming atmosphere. An agreeable planting palette of Aeonium canariense, Phormium tenax –dark delight, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dymondia margaretae are injected with a mass planting of Nassella tenuissima that give gentle movement to an otherwise static planting.