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October 2006
Lessons in creating an artfully untamed display from a Beverly Hills garden |
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Raising The Grade
by Heather Lebus
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Hug selected an extensive list of paving materials
gathered from the ruins of Europe to the deserts of Arizona.
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York
stone pavers rescued from old English buildings and shipped to
the United States frame the swimming pool (above, right). A brick
pathway leads to the custom-made playhouse (above, left), designed
by Steve Hug Landscape Architect and constructed by Chris Hollenbeck.
The child's retreat complements the style of the parents' home. |
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- For Landscape Architect Steve Hug,
transforming a virtually "non-usable" space in Pacific
Palisades, California into a "usable" landscape proved
quite a challenge. The one-acre, triangular-shaped residential
property needed warmth and dimension, and so the Landscape
Architect responded with a charming landscape design and a
tri-level landscape.
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- Hug gave the residence dimension by essentially creating
three horizons-- the patio level, swimming pool level, and
landscape level. The existing patio off the kitchen door was
small and blocked by four, two-foot square brick columns; Hug
removed two of the columns and extended the patio out. According
to Hug, "For the contractor, taking the columns out was
difficult, since the original pergola was to remain. The columns
spanned about 24 feet, and the process required extra support
beams and reinforcement." Originally, five steps led down
to a lower patio, two steps came back up to a sitting area
under a long arbor, and a long retaining wall divided the yard
between the house and the pool. Hug raised the grade one foot
so now he only needed three steps down, took out the retaining
wall and extended the steps the length of the patio, by dropping
the grade one foot on the other side. This design opened the
entire yard up, making it feel much bigger and giving it more
usable space. He compensated for the elevation change by adding
two steps at the pool entrance.
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- An extensive array of plant materials complements the existing
Eucalyptus trees, which the owners wished to preserve. A new
gravel patio off the living room is peppered with 24" terra
cotta pots and lined with a brick border. An herb garden was
added for the avid gardener residents. The yard's view originally "consisted
of plaster walls and tree trunks," Hug explains; he planted
Long-Leafed Yellow-Wood to hide the walls and add dimension
and height to the landscape plan.
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- For the landscape design, Hug worked with the client in selecting
antique English York stone and French terra cotta tiles to
bend in with the 30 year old existing brick that was reused
for the pool deck. He also selected an extensive list of paving
materials gathered from the ruins of Europe to the deserts
of Arizona. The selection of the materials was very important,
since the client desired to incorporate the existing old Italian
brick into the new design. The stone around the pool and the
steps to the patio were a York stone out of old buildings from
England, and the tile used on the patio was also out of old
buildings from France. He explains, "The end result blends
together very nicely." A sliding iron gate complements
the railing along the landscape perimeter wall. Connector pathways
of Arizona flag stepping stones on a mortar base complement
the built-in barbecue counter and the low block retaining wall.
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- In addition, Hug custom-designed a playhouse for the client's
daughter. The playhouse blends in with the main house, and
it features a loft and a porthole window. A brick-bordered
sandbox sits outside the playhouse. Hug maintains, "One
of the most challenging aspects of the project was to integrate
the play equipment and play house into this space and make
it blend with the rest of the property."
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- A dramatic new low voltage lighting system and colorful Landscape
have added vibrancy and perspective to this stately home. By
experimenting with different levels and perspectives, Hug was
able to "raise the grade" of this residential space
that he credits with "a lot of potential"-- and meet
the expectations of his creative-minded clients.
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