Landscape Architect Articles

LASN September 2011 Outdoor Living: Backyard Features Contemporary, Sustainable Design09-01-11 | News

Backyard Features Contemporary, Sustainable Design

By Gregory Harris

The homeowners wanted the backyard to have a grassy element but preferred a no-maintenance solution, leading to the installation of synthetic grass. Planters surround the courtyard, including one with a water feature that runs off of harvested water.
Photos Courtesy of REALM Environments

Views of the Santa Catalina Mountain range attracted the homeowners to this residence in the Saddlebrooke community in the outskirts of Tucson, Ariz. The home was a new construction, offering landscape designer Jason Isenberg a blank canvas to create a modern outdoor space.

Isenberg, owner of REALM Environments, noted that his company was contacted after the home was built, which was not an impediment to the design process.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

Native plantings were used in the design to allow the backyard to fit seamlessly into the natural setting of the Arizona desert. Eight different species of Agave were planted along with 13 different herb species in the garden.

Sustainability
REALM has focused on sustainability as a company for 16 years, with Isenberg noting, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The 2,400 square-foot backyard space is one of the larger sites in the neighborhood and Isenberg designed everything in the space ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The project employs various aspects of xeriscaping, including passive water harvesting and the use of native plantings. An outdoor kitchen and fireplace adorn the space for entertaining. The space also features a limestone deck and a swatch of synthetic grass.

Cantera pavers were used on the pool deck. Native plantings, such as Yellow Trailing Lantana, use very little water and add a splash of color in the pool area.

Design Features
?EUR??,,????'?????<

Water is used in the space for cooling (via the swimming pool) and to bring auditory features to the landscape. The swimming pool is about 30 feet in length and features three fountains that add to the sound of water flowing in the backyard. The cube-shaped fountains are small enough to not overpower the space but large enough to also serve as planters. Agave plants were chosen for these planters, bringing more color to the tan colors of the desert landscape.

Limestone was chosen for the deck surfacing because it is more elegant than flagstone and because it mirrors the materials used indoors.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The outdoor fireplace and seatbench are both made from Cantera molding with stucco to match the house. Four lights help brighten the seating area on dark Arizona nights and a palo verde tree was planted in the courtyard.

Tucson, with its location in the desert, can get rather warm. Temperatures in the summer months average from the upper 90s and hotter, making shade a necessary item on the landscape. This property has no trees in the backyard, so Isenberg uses colorful shades to provide areas of cooling.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The space has seven spots available for shades, including a couple in the swimming pool. In addition to providing areas for cooling, the red shades also add color the space.

The 30-foot long swimming pool includes water features made out of Chiseled Cantera stucco. Harvested rainwater is used for the fountain. Planters that are filled with native plants have been placed on top of the water feature.

Outdoor Kitchen
The homeowners have an outdoor grill located near a window of the home. In wanting to maintain their views of the mountains when looking out of the window, they requested that the grill be situated below the window. This request resulted in passive rainwater harvesting on the site.

In order to place the grill below the window, the outdoor kitchen area had to be slightly lower than the rest of the backyard. As a result of the slope, rainwater flows toward this area, traveling to an in-ground basin. The water then re-circulates throughout the property.

The outdoor kitchen features a stainless steel 4 burner gas grill, bins for composting and storage, and a bar with a sink. The vast countertops are made out of colored concrete and the backsplash is stucco. GFCI outlets and Flexlights are easily accessible.

Dual Functions
The outdoor space also features a fireplace that is located on the side of the house. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

In addition to providing a relaxing space for the homeowners and guests, the fireplace also serves as a privacy barrier, shielding views into the space from neighboring properties. The height of the fireplace and a perimeter flanked with tall native plant materials gives the space the desired privacy.