Sustainable Landscape

The reduction in the use of water to create a sustainable landscape served as the impetus for the redesign of the Demcak garden. Front and rear lawns were removed to give way to drought-tolerant plantings and permeable paving. The front entryway was repurposed with fossilized stone tile over an old concrete walk that was cut and softened with ground covers. Stone pavers, set on decomposed granite to allow water to percolate back into the earth, replaced the front lawn, creating a shady, front courtyard to escape the summer heat. The city parkway was designed simply, yet strikingly different — a project epitomized by its low maintenance, low water use and low budget.

Two rooms comprise the rear garden: one with a scored-colored concrete patio for entertaining and the other with a stabilized, granite sitting area for quiet contemplation and relaxation. Both serve as striking view gardens and foils for the blight of neighboring houses. Decomposed granite paths and stepping stones circumnavigate and connect the spaces to an existing deck. The grasses’ swaying seed heads accent majestic views of the Pacific Ocean in the background.