Proper configuration of the desired elements was essential in order to make the most of this backyard. Several amenities were to be implemented in a relatively small space. A large entertainment area for grilling, socializing, and sitting around a fire, space for children to play, and a vegetable garden were all included in the client program. A site analysis also revealed the demand for shade, screening, and the need to scale down the large imposing home.
Maximizing the space has been accomplished by intertwining the environments. A deck has been placed directly off the back door that will satisfy the grilling and eating areas. Deck steps serve as overflow seating when a bonfire is being enjoyed on the adjacent patio. A tree that will provide much needed shade to the deck will also screen the neighbors and orient sight lines to a borrowed view. The tree will also tone down the powerful feel of the large house and will provide a canopy to the eating area, creating some sense of seclusion to an otherwise open space. The fire pit that occupies the patio is free standing and can be used as a table, or removed from the space entirely to accommodate more people. The vegetable garden borders the patio to the east. It’s placed there to utilize the sunlight and capitalize on its convenient location. A decorative fence will be constructed, separating the garden and patio, that will double as a bench. The consolidation of several elements near the home allows for large open space further out in the yard.
The back fence is lined with bald cypress trees for screening. Though deciduous their branch habit is dense enough they will still act as a visual barrier during the winter. They are a suitable selection given their moisture tolerance, as water has a tendency to sit in the drainage swale that runs across the back of the property. Additional plantings include many natives and grasses that adapt well to the soil, and woody shrubs that ensure year-round interest.
