The winner of the 2017 Gardenista Considered Design Awards Best Curb Appeal project is Katharine Webster Landscape Architect for her Lush and Urban landscape in San Francisco.
“The textures of red brick, smooth concrete, and lush foliage provide strong curb appeal for this home in San Francisco, California.”
“In coordination with the slope of the sidewalk, a strong wall is elevated from the ground and supports smaller foliage while, below, lush plants define the sidewalk.”
This innovative approach to the outdoors sets our firm’s work apart because we dissect the indoor/outdoor space in a very precise way, and create strong relationships between elements and the horizon line, taking into consideration the building’s relationship to the ground, as well as the different microclimates.
“The sharp edge of a wall is juxtaposed with the lush greenery and curving arrangement of plants.” Since the house is elevated like a plinth, we needed to address the exposed walls and planting beds at eye level.
“A variety of climate-conscious plants were utilized to add a variety of shapes, colors, and textures to this curbside landscape.” And five, the existing yews and boxwood were quite lanky when we started and needed to feel more substantial.
“Thin and delicate trees stand supported by lush foliage at their base against the roadside. Housed in clean, rectangular squares, they provide modern, geometric appeal to this curbside landscape design.”
The wife wanted more of a Mediterranean look so she got to select the sunny side of the palette, whereas the husband liked the burgundy shades and the shade-loving plants.
Q: What advice do you have for someone else undertaking a similar project? A: Understand your context, your client, and your microclimates—as well as understand what are you trying to solve.
Q: Which garden designers, gardeners, landscape architects do you admire? As for a favorite architect, it would be Richard Neutra for his incorporation and celebration of indoor/outdoor living, which is so popular in California.