Chaparral Seascape
Situated on a coastal chaparral mountainside this residence was undergoing a large interior remodel. The primary objective was to resolve the arrival to the property. Vehicles park at a upper level of the residence but the main entrance is on the lower level down a steep embankment. This was resolved with a stepped stone wall and staggered concrete stairs creating a gradual and settled entrance to the home that took in the expansive coastal views.
HABITAT TYPE
Coastal Chaparral • Rural
DESIGN CONSTRAINTS
High Winds • Rocky soil • Steep slopes • Coastal influence (salt, fog, temperature) • Intense sun exposure • Deer/rabbit grazing
DESIGN FEATURES
Low Maintenance • Hardscape (walls, stairs) • Kids Play Area (Native Lawn)
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FEATURES
CA Native and Drought Tolerant Non-Native Plants
Plantings needed to be resilient to sun, wind, deer, rabbits, and evergreen for year round appeal.
This property is overtaken by the invasive kikuyu grass. The primary objective for this landscape was low maintenance so rather than taking on the very high maintenance task of keeping this grass out of the landscape we embraced its presence and intended to let it fill in between the stone stairs and be mown short.
The stepped stone wall accents the stairs to the front door as well as retains the focal landscaping outside a guest bedroom and the primary garden seen upon arrival.
Overall the plantings needed to be low maintenance, drought resistant, and evergreen with the exception of a small native lawn as a safe space for kids to play on this steep mountainside.
Featured Plants
Manzanita ‘Emerald Carpet’ • Manzanita ‘Sunset’ • Manzanita ‘Dr.Hurd’ • Foxtail Agave • Fescue Lawn • Chondropetalum • CA Poppy • CA Yarrow
