Open to view

Sometimes making the most of the scenery is as simple as focusing attention on a particular aspect. This can be achieved by positioning the garden in front of the view and creating a framework that leads the eye out to the landscape.

The owners of this adobe-style home wanted an outdoor space that would link well to the interior and also do justice to spectacular, long-ranging views across a golf course to a nearby town. Landscape designers Peggy and Lorenzo DeLaGarza created the resulting environment with additional in-put from architect John MacDonald.

"We achieved a strong connection to the home by linking materials, relocating existing garden features and re-orienting the layout," says MacDonald. "But, focusing the garden to the greater view required careful manipulation of an infinity-edge pool already in place."

While the pool was an integral part of the garden, it had not been given an important focus within the original design. To provide a framework that would lead visitors' eyes to the view, bookend elements were introduced to the pool.

"A tile structure to the left of the pool and the water feature to the right bring the pool a lower visual threshold," he says. "This means the eye is encouraged to look across the water to the golf course and the city view beyond."

"This lower perspective encourages viewers to incorporate the intermediary terrain into the view," says MacDonald. "This way the entire vista is seen as one rather than the eye jumping straight past the golf course to the distant view."

Foliage around the pool was also kept at a height which encouraged a visual flow between the nearer and greater landscape.

With the adobe-style home also incorporating a strong Spanish colonial accent, an existing outdoor fireplace in this style was relocated and rebuilt to open up the terrace to the views.

The home's colonial character encouraged a melding of the indoor and outdoor spaces. For this reason, existing outdoor furniture with an indoor feel was retained and re-oriented towards the views. The warm, hand-crafted adobe look was extended through the garden area by the use of locally sourced sandstone pavers.

Practical elements as well as aesthetic ones also had to be considered in the design. For example, the terrace area was raised during the renovation to discourage creatures of the desert, such as scorpions and rattle snakes, from entering the garden.

Story by: Trendsideas