Vertical Healing Garden

Project: Residential Landscape Design + Build
Location: Salinas, California
Scope of Services: This was a custom design, fabrication and installation of a cor ten entry gate, vertical living mesh screen, slate entry and sidewalks and a series of three custom wood climbing structures amongst natives, edible climbers and fruit trees. Lighting and irrigation was also installed as well as reclaimed wood benches for reading and observing wildlife. Upon completion of installation, follow-up consulting and maintenance took place for the first six months for client support and garden coaching.

Program: An older woman in a violence-prone neighborhood was looking for a secure, yet welcoming home entry design and back yard courtyard garden that exudes life due to recent events in her life. The garden functions as a tranquil, zen place of healing and health that encourages her to spend more time outdoors, growing and tending to her own strawberries, figs, citrus, apples, culinary herbs and observing the many life forms. Transforming her neglected and abandoned home space into an active participant in the healing process of her body, mind and spirit during this significant transition in her life was the primary objective.


Custom cor ten gate & mesh climbing screen

Gate Design Detail - Minimalism, Utilitarianism & Zen Unified

Partial View Into The Inner Courtyard Entry Garden

Here the vertical climbing structure against the stucco wall backdrop becomes the backbone and skeletal structure for a passionfruit vine, engulfing the wood 'ribs' as if its discovering a once abandoned structure and taking full advantage of its close proximity. Refinished redwood bench slats entice the passerby to take a pause, sit and BE in the space.

Espalier apples & citrus grow on skeletal trellises


Mortared slate walkways

Casita Verde, Seaside California

Project: Whole-House Green Building Retrofit - Passive Solar Home + Garden Renovation

Location: Seaside, California

Client: Writer + Designer / Artist

Program: 680sf work live home on a 3600sf lot in a diverse mixed use urban residential seaside neighborhood. The goal is to create an urban homestead that exudes comfort, creativity, sufficiency and self reliance while maximizing multi-functionality and vastness within the constaints of a small footprint. All elements of the home and garden actively contribute to a simple healthy regenerative lifestyle on a small budget.

Scope: Architectural, interior and landscape design services, design oversight, material sourcing, building and installation for interior and exterior modifications and greening.





GREEN FEATURES:

• Designed and built south facing dormer addition to maximize interior daylighting, elevate and expand living space and reduce energy consumption during daylight hours.

• Removed attic and opened interior walls to create cathedral ceiling and open floor plan for an urban muli-functional work live environment.
  

• Repositioned windows and doors to maximize views while maintaining privacy and to strategically welcome light from sun rise to sun set.
  

• Porch and dormer roof decking made from 100 year old redwood barn door wood sourced locally in San Juan Batista
  

• Standing seam cool roof for rainwater harvesting, reducing heat island effect and improving energy efficiency in house.
  

• Recycled kitchen stove, utility sink for future art studio, reclaimed & recycled wood & hardware throughout interior and exterior of house.
  

• Plumbed for future graywater system & rain harvesting system
  

• Recycled WWII era doug fir flooring pulled from factory in bay area

• Two north-facing skylight additions
  

• Energy Star tankless water heater, gas furnace, water fixtures and appliances
  

• Insulation in flooring, walls & ceiling

• Reclaimed and recycled redwood for exterior and interior trim work

• Low and NO VOC interior white paint and interior and exterior wood sealers.
  

More images to come.

Terraced Hillside Living Space, Santa Cruz Ca

Project: Terraced Residential Living Space

Scope of Project: Design + Build

Location: Santa Cruz, California

Intention & Key Features: The primary focus of this design was maximizing usage, transforming a steep, untapped hillside into a flourishing abundant garden. This garden breeds life and provides for entertaining and outdoor living year round.

Four terraced living spaces with an integrated water feature and covered dining area with solar panel array provides the backdrop for edibles, natives, fruiting trees and flowering climbers.

Most important for the client was creating a view shed out to the ocean at the top of the hillside for scoping out those perfect surf sessions. This backyard shows what's possible in the face of uncertainty.

Residential Green Retrofit, Santa Cruz California

Project: Residential Graywater Constructed Wetland, Rain Garden Bioretention System, Raised Edible Beds, Permeable Paving, 3,000 Gallon Underground Cistern, Vegetated Driveway & Vertical Climbing Garden

- Gravity Fed Laundry to Landscape System

Purpose: Utilize On-Site Recycled Laundry Water & Rainwater Resources To Create A Gravity-Fed Irrigation System & Underground Rainwater Collection System That Facilitates Groundwater Recharge, Sustains Native & Edible Landscape, Diversifies Urban Microclimates, Promotes Cooling, Builds Habitat & Encourages Biodiversity

Scope of Work: 2-d & 3-d Conceptual & Working Drawings For Integrated Site Systems, Interface With Client & Engineer, Design Oversight During Course Of Construction

Location: National Street, Santa Cruz California

100 Gallon Rainwater HOG System- Pilgrim's Way Bookstore, Carmel-By-The-Sea

Project: HOG Rainwater Catchment Demonstration System
Scope: Design & Installation
Storage Capacity: 100 Gallons With Potential To Expand
Project Location: The Secret Garden
Pilgrim's Way Bookstore
Carmel-By-The-Sea

The Rainwater HOG is a 50 gallon modular storage catchment tank for the collection of rainwater. The HOG can be installed vertically or horizontally and you can extend the number of modules over time as your storage system needs and capacity expands. Whether for irrigation, habitat creation or toilet flushing, the HOG can be designed into a vast erray of site conditions. I can customize the HOG design to fit your specific lifestyle needs, site conditions and short and long term goals for reducing your potable water usage and integrating rainwater catchment into your sustainable home or business ecosystem. The HOG system can acheive up to 9 LEED credits for new construction or existing buildings.

Commercial Project: Laser Devices Inc., Monterey Ca

All sod was removed from the site creating a semi-public native drought tolerant garden plaza space for employees & clientele upon entry.

Custom commercial entry courtyard sculpture, sitting wall + water feature

3-d concept model

Fabrication

Water feature & terraced ipe deck seating

Entry metal sconce lighting design, fabrication + installation

Terraced entry courtyard habitat planting

Second Story Interior Mezzanine Plant Design & Installation Welcomes Commercial Clients, Provides Improved Indoor Air Quality, Improved Productivity & Connection To Nature In The Work Place.



Light Houses does monthly maintenance on this interior plant scheme along with the entire exterior grounds.

Sample Project: Bioretention and Habitat Pond in Carmel Valley

This natural spring in Yosemite National Park shows healthy systems at work:

In designing a water feature for a home, we always attempt to mimic natural systems.

This water feature includes a bioretention pond, a technique that helps retain stormwater run-off.

Best of all, this design provides habitat for native plants and animals while creating a peaceful sanctuary forthe homeowner.

From design concept to completion: