A big transformation of a tiny backyard space in East Arlington.  

 

The Owner, an Architect, presented us with a collection of photos of contemporary gardens that she admired, and most of them featured a bold use of concrete. She knew she wanted a wood deck that appeared to float over the ground plane by way of cantilevered edges. Together we developed a design for a garden that balances the light floating plane of  the deck with a series of anchoring concrete cubes.  We cast 12 of these concrete cubes on site, arranging them to rise logically from the simple paving pattern to create seats for groups of 2 or 3 people.

 

We rehabbed the existing fence and incorporated some of the existing concrete pavers into our design.  These thin grey rectangular pavers had eroded over probably 30 years of weathering.  The Owner power-washed them and discovered a nice pebble texture, which contrasts nicely with the smooth new 18"x18" square concrete pavers.  Plants include shade lovers such as solomon's seal, ferns, wild ginger, leucothoe and dwarf mountain laurel.

 

---

Design + Winter 2012