casa de los Arcos

Description

Casa de los Arcos, West Hollywood, CA
Private residence

Designer Laura Morton, APLD
LauraMortonDesign.com

The entire property was redesigned to accommodate addition of a new swimming pool in the backyard. The Front was a typical turfgrass with a concrete walkway and the back the same and a single driveway. We created a front courtyard with recycling waterfeature surrounded by a combination of California native plants and typical mission period plantings. All stormwater is infiltrated on site and permeable surfaces were used whenever possible.
Built in banquettes make good use of the limited space in the back and the side drive is home to edibles in planters and succulents to save water. A new driveway is permeable and accommodates two vechicles.
Materials were sourced locally and this project was constructed by licenced landscape contractors.
This Project totaled about $120,000

What steps were taken to make it Sustainable?
• Water-wise and appropriate Mediterranean and California Plant families create a changing seasonal palette & provide habitat and forage for birds and butterflies. Mulch improves soil quality.
• Outdoor living spaces replace the monoculture and monotony of the green grass carpet plus the costs, water, labor, and chemical that goes into it. Invites a deeper connection to nature.
• Drip Irrigation reduces evaporation and run-off-conserving water. The established plantings survive on rainfall with only occasional water during dry spells in the winter. The exception are the Fruit trees and edibles (on their own zone) The ‘rainmakers’ are used occasionally rinsing off the pollution getting oxygen into the soil, as well as for starting native seed in the fall. Overall water use is minimal and skilled gardeners monitor application.
• This garden is maintained without the use of gas-powered tools minimizing noise and pollution in the neighborhood.
• An infiltration pit collects run-off. Permeable paving like the driveway and cobble and gravel areas allow water to filter into the earth, replenishing the water table with clean H2o.
• Repurposed building materials reduce landfill.

Casa de los Arcos

Casa de los Arcos was named for the arches that inspired this Spanish revival garden completed in 2007. Well established and well maintained, this landscape is colorful, harmonious and exemplifies an indoor-outdoor experience. A dynamic entry courtyard with tiled octagonal fountain and California native and Mediterranean plantings evokes the early California spirit. An outdoor kitchen, edible garden and dining area and are cleverly worked into the driveway down the side. The pool area is connected to the home and writing studio by Moroccan tiled patios and richly upholstered built-in banquettes, shaded by a majestic palm. This landscape meets the criteria for Ocean Friendly garden.
2010 APLD residential design award
National Wildlife Association certification

Sustainable ideas on site
Water Runoff
Surface water runoff from patios, outdoors shower and roof is directed to an infiltration pit in the front yard. This is overplanted with riparian California native plant material.
Hardscape-Permeability
The Cobblestone patio/walkway in the front yard, as well as gravel carpet and fill-in areas in the back act as permeable paving filtering water on its way to replenishing the water table.
Driveway and entry pathway were designed as large reinforced colored concrete pavers on a subsurface of sharp gravel. Pebbles and un-stabilized dg fill the 4inch spaces that run diagonally to the planter beds. Concrete will last a long time and require little maintenance other than replenishing the cracks from time to time.