The green roof atop the pool cabana incorporates LiveRoof 6" modules (1' x 2' x 3-1/4") with approximately 6" of soil. Media cells were grown off site. The plantings, chosen for the microclimate and aesthetics of the site, are "Blackfoot' daisies, "Berkley' sedge, and blue and side-oats gramas. The perimeter stone path is for roof maintenance; it also hides the irrigation system.

After purchasing an adjacent property, the Park Cities, Texas client commissioned the Harold Leidner Landscape Architecture firm to create a stylish outdoor entertainment space. Park Cities (pop. 31,632) references two affluent Dallas area communities: the town of Highland Park and the city of University Park. The municipalities share a border and are considered an enclave surrounded by Dallas.

The firm, established 25 years ago, specializes in the "design and installation of unique modern gardens that extend the outdoor living experience" to clients in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. A pool and cabana were top candidates for the new lot. As local code dictated that the structure had to be attached to the main house, it was important to find a way to differentiate new from old while maintaining a sense of consistency.

Before and after: An area was combined with the existing lot to allow the creation of a larger rear garden, creating space for the cabana, pool and house addition.

The solution was to create an open-air cabana with a distinct architectural style that incorporates materials from the house. A pitched roof slopes toward the front entrance, reducing the façade to maintain the prominence of the main house. Grass-jointed paving disguises a circular drive that allows guests off-street parking space, while maintaining the subtlety of the cabana. The grass flows from the existing front lawn seamlessly into the added lot.

Through the pivoting door the exposed steel beams of the ceiling grow taller to increase airflow and open views of the rear garden. Inside, a full bathroom with an indoor/outdoor shower is dressed in the same brick as the façade, continuing to blur the line between interior and exterior space. Beyond the bathroom lies a full outdoor kitchen, complete with a pizza oven and an island counter that doubles as a bar. A spacious enclosed pantry is ready to fuel the chef's weekly specialties.

A Grasspave2 (Invisible Structures) drive, an extension of the front lawn, is durable enough to provide parking for plenty of guests. The turf throughout the landscape is Zoysia "Palisades', a dark green, medium-coarse textured lawn grass. Its attributes are low maintenance, low-water needs and excellent cold hardiness. The large oaks were undisturbed during the home renovation. The cabana (green roof in view) was placed to provide separation from the main building, but enough connection to house utilities. The perimeter fencing is #1 select cedar.

Sharing space with the kitchen is the open living room. Eclectic furniture adorns this area surrounding an oversized fireplace and massive television. The line between interior and exterior is further blurred as the ceiling continues to rise, supported only by four steel posts. Beyond, an arbor lowers the overhead plane as the cabana floor drops away to the pool deck. However, between the support posts and the arbor, a retractable screen can be lowered to provide an enhanced sense of enclosure and retreat from the elements.

The acid washed concrete of the pool cabana floor extends out as the pool deck and connects with the spa end of the pool. The step pads and pool coping are also acid etched concrete. The fire pit is built flush with the deck and surrounding step pads. The cabana, supported by steel posts, offers shaded lounge space, an outdoor kitchen with barbeque and pizza oven, a pantry, an island counter that doubles as a bar and a spacious bathroom. The cabana's high ceiling helps keep the space cool during the hot Texas summers. When temperatures cool, retractable screens enclose the space in front and the sides to keep in the warmth eminating from the large interior fireplace. This week's specials are written on the oversized chalkboard.

As the broad steps meet the pool deck, a fire pit, flush with the surrounding step pads, becomes visible – yet another entertaining space between the inviting waters of the pool and spa. Once you have allowed yourself adequate time to soak up the details of the cabana, the eye is drawn toward the pool and water wall beyond. The water wall continues the theme of matching materials by incorporating the brick from the cabana and the tile from the pool. The recessed panel of the wall aligns with the cabana door and features LEDs behind its surround. The tile flows down the wall, around the pool and back to the spa. Here, a subtle detail is almost overlooked: The tile changes from a dark grey to a lighter tone, matching the acid-washed concrete of the cabana floor, coping and step pads. This creates the illusion that the beaches on either side of the spa are a continuation of the pool deck.

At the rear of the property a covered porch with a screened sleeping area above is connected to the ipe deck via a spiral staircase (right). As the perimeter trees (Vitex agnus-castus, loquat and dogwood) mature, the garden will be effectively hidden from surrounding properties.

On both sides of the pool lay raised ipe decks. These platforms provide a clean break from the grass that surrounds the pool on three sides. Past the deck on the right side an addition to the original house capitalizes on view of the new space. On the lower level a screened porch provides a seating area off the kitchen. Above, a suspended bed is the centerpiece of a screened sleeping area. A spiral staircase delivers you from your outdoor slumber to the deck off of the main house. This ipe deck wraps the rear of the house and surrounds a large tree. By preserving this tree, the back deck remains shaded and provides privacy from adjacent neighbors. To further the sense of privacy the deck turns up, becoming a seat bench and fence on its journey. This is done to screen the private drive to a detached garage behind the main house.

Off the existing house is a new ipe deck that helps connect the main house to the addition, while screening a detached garage. Built-in benches and a cutout to preserve an oak tree are distinctive touches to the space. The steel planter (from Bold MFG, a product division of Steel House MFG) houses a Japanese "October Glory' maple.

As you journey back to the cabana, lush plantings, dramatic planters and towering screen trees make the garden feel like another world. Just outside, the residential streets are buzzing with construction and local traffic. Inside, the space is quiet, calm and relaxed. Existing trees and tall live oaks help hide the surrounding neighbors. Hydrangeas and roses dot the garden in shades of blue and pink. Pottery is carefully placed throughout to create herb gardens, vegetable gardens, dramatic anchors and colorful accents. Perfectly manicured grass floods between step pads to surround the decks in a green carpet.

Grass and step pads extend to the pool deck with raised ipe seating areas on both sides. The water wall has a brick veneer that matches the house, and "Terra Maestricht' tiles (Knoxtile) that match the pool tiling. The recessed panel of the water wall aligns with the cabana door and features LEDs behind its surround. The tile flows down the wall, around the pool and to the spa. The opposite ends of the spa are shallow "tanning ledges." The tile changes from a dark grey to a lighter tone to match the acid washed concrete of the cabana floor, coping and step pads. Hydrangeas and roses dot the garden.

Connecting the cabana to the main house turned out to be a practical solution to a problem with the air conditioning units. Previously, along the side of the house, the units were consolidated by adding a geothermal system in the rear garden. Remaining units were relocated into this connecting space with the geothermal equipment and other utilities. This lower connecting portion is below the second story windows and is almost hidden from the front façade.

The deck transitions to an ipe fence to hide the detached garage. On the backside, cables are integrated into the slats, allowing "Waxleaf' ligustrum vines to help soften the view from the private entry.

From the second story, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the cabana is revealed: the live roof. The drought tolerant plants (including Blackfoot daisy, Berkley sedge, blue grama and "Side Oats' grama) thrive in the hot conditions of the sun. Hinted at from the street, these plants can be seen in their full glory from above, dancing in the breeze, softening the view from second story windows.

The indoor/outdoor shower features a sliding barn door for privacy while screening the utility room. Air conditioners and geothermal equipment have been carefully placed in this space to enhance the aesthetic of the rear garden and increase functionality.