For a busy young family, this contemporary revival of a craftsman-style home provides several spaces within a small outdoor footprint to entertain, play, produce, and relax. A wide open and welcoming front entry encourages interaction with neighbors, softened with Kurapia, a low water lawn alternative, and other climate-adaptive plants. An updated curved stone path gives life to a long, alley-shaped side yard. The hand-crafted redwood timber batten gate beckons a limited view into the backyard, while adding modern texture, dimension and rhythm to the space.
Redwood material and the timber batten pattern is repeated, highlighting the dining area at the heart of the backyard. Rectilinear and geometric forms of the fencing, stone floor pattern, and other landscape elements tie the backyard spaces together. Plenty of space is dedicated to organic modern raised beds for growing their own food and surrounding themselves with lush and abundant plant life. And there is still room to romp and play and dance.
Location: Oakland, CA
MLA Team:
Lead Designer: Julie Lienert
Landscape Architect: Susan Miller
Collaborators:
Architect: Alexandra Saikley, Saikley Architects, Inc.
Contractors: Luis Moreno, Lema Construction Inc.
Landscape Contractor: Gonzalez Landscaping
Engineer: Jack Rafferty Engineering
Photographer: © Jude Parkinson-Morgan