Landscape and hardscape design around a swimming pool

 

This is a project from 2023 in Orange County. The address and the rest of the plans are not shared for the client's privacy purposes.

The lot has an existing two story house with a rear attached patio cover. The landscape design shows an improvement of the front yard with a continuation of hardscape to allow a (requested) RV parking. There is a transition zone between the proposed permeable pavers, the landscape and the existing slabs.

An open pool house was designed as well, with an outdoor kitchen, a living-fire place area and a bar that is covered by a trellis. I located the fire pit next to the bar, with a round hardscape of permeable pavers, connected to a path leading to the solarium and swimming pool.

Behind the swimming pool, we see a water fall wall with two decorative vase planters on each corner, and adjacent to this wall, a mini golf surrounded by native bushes has been designed. It also has a bridge crossing a pond that gets the water from a round fountain in the planters.

The location of the fountain is in straight perspective with the swimming pool and jacuzzi, as a final point of interest.

The path to the existing storage is informal, with stepping stones and lighting across the grass.

This is the outdoor kitchen and fire place "pool house" floor plan. The barbecue, since it is under a roof, is fully covered and the exhaust is through a chimney. The kitchen walls are full height, one of them next to palm trees. They are hiding the existing swimming pool filters. A stepping stones path next to the planter is proposed behind the pool house to reach the filters. 

Since the sun is on this side during the afternoon, the fire place side walls are lower to allow the entry of natural light. On both sides of the fire place, there are shelves. 

The left side projection is the trellis above the bar seats and the entry of the pool house.

There is a full view of the swimming pool from the fire place area.

The landscape of Amorepacific Headquarters

 

Today I have been reading about British architect Sir David Chipperfield, who has just been announced as the Pritzker winner 2023, the highest recognition in the architecture field.

From all his work, I am sharing some interesting pictures of the landscape design for the Amorepacific Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, 2017. The photographs belong to Noshe, David Chipperfield Architects, Ute Zscharnt, and were downloaded from ArchDaily where you can read the building description in the architects' own words.

I find the view through the sculptural trees fascinating. And the combination and contrast of the rigid facades grid, with the tortuous thin trunks and the rounded planters with lots of ferns. 

The trees look so ethereal and permeable like the facades per se. Note the lighting and the floor reflections.

As described by the architects: "Nature permeates the building right up to the roof gardens, where large trees express their sculptural quality complemented by amorphous water basins."

The trees scale and the translucent floor. See how the planter is square and flat in the circulation. 

The human scale.

Another translucent element in the floor, which has a square grid.

The trees scale in the overall magnitude of the building

The "hollowed" cube and the technical grid so beautifully inserted in the existing environment. See how a different grid is used in the building on the right.

One of the floor plans with the trees planters

One of the floor plans with the trees planters

Patio cover next to swimming pool

 

This hardscape project in Orange County has a couple of years. We have proposed a pitch patio cover that breaks the flat continuity of the existing rear facade.  There is a narrower area for outdoor dining and a wider living-family area for relax. The homeowner requested glass on the side due to strong winds. 

The barbecue has a free standing chimney (it is not allowed to have fire elements below a roof, minimum clearance should be 14'). And the minimum set back to the swimming pool is 5'. 

There is no garden so close to this patio cover, but we added some landscape with ceramic plants pots.

The bottom finish is made with natural stone liner, to match the flooring.  

Renders prepared by arq. Luis Makianich.

Landscape Design with stage, payground and bar area

 

This is a preliminary project, currently under revision. It consists of widening an existing path, create a playground with a play house, design a stage for a young singer under an existing Pepper tree and in continuation of a landing, informally locate the spectators and finally design a bar with a rest area. 

One of the conditions was that the lot, which is sloping down with a difference of 7' in level, would be divided in flat terraces. No foundation is possible here because most part of this area is Public Works easement. In consequence, we have worked with portable decks that could easily be removed in case underground repairs were needed.

A transition space leading to the bar is achieved with high cylinder cactus planters on stone or ground cover straight areas alternating with portable decks. The end of the perspective is a sitting area on gravel and the bar next to an existing tree plus a decorative flowering tree behind.

Some side bushes are existing, others are proposed.

The hard lines of the added geometry is designed in contrast with the winding path. To make it wider, an edge with decorative stone was added.

The preliminary floor plan and cross section is partially shown here, in order to protect the privacy of the client. The job site is in Southern California.

1,500 Oaks to rebuild the Notre Dame spire

 

Picture from The Guardian. Credit to Francois Mori/AP

Every time we submit plans in CA cities with oaks, we have to declare if there are oaks inside-outside the lot and if there is the intention to remove them, which would be not a choice for us, so important historical oaks are.

There are different species of oaks in CA and I had the surprise to see, in Pasadena, there are some Jack Blue Oak Trees from the East Coast. 

Urban oaks in Pasadena. Photos by Myriam Mahiques, 2020. Personal archives.

So today I am reading this article on The Guardian which is informing us 1,500 oaks aged 150 and 200 will be needed to rebuild the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral which was on fire in April 2019. 

I have some mixed feelings about it, being and architect and with such a love for landscape and trees.

But Notre Dame is an architectural treasure and of course the sacrifice of oaks will be fine while (as it is stated in the article) they will be replaced for brand new oaks to be utilized by future generations. 

From the article:

"Emmanuel Macron said the 850-year-old cathedral would be rebuilt by 2024, but there were questions over whether the spire, added in 1859 by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, would be reproduced with a “contemporary gesture” as the president had hinted. 

 Last July, Macron announced the spire would be reconstructed exactly as it was. This is expected to require up to 1,000 oaks aged between 150 and 200 years old. The trees must be straight, 50-90cm (20-36in) in diameter and between 8 and 14 metres tall. They must be chopped down by the end of March before the sap rises, otherwise the wood will be too humid. Before being cut into beams, the trunks will be allowed to dry for up to 18 months." (....)

"Work to restore the cathedral is not expected to begin until the beginning of 2022. Carpentry experts say rebuilding Notre Dame as it was will take 2,000 cubic metres of wood, requiring about 1,500 oaks to be cut down. The cathedral’s roof contained so many wooden beams it was called la forêt (the forest). The roof’s support included 25 triangular structures 10 metres high and 14 metres across at the base, placed over the stone vaults of the nave."

NOTE: Read the full article clicking on the link above.

Are permits needed for hardscape plans and works?

 

A conceptual 3D render of the project below

One of my projects of landscape and hardscape that required a permit. The title block was removed for the client's privacy.

In my experience, most people avoid to pull permits (submit plans to the City) when they want hardscape and landscape design and works. And this is the designer/architect obligation to explain when the permits are needed or not. I am listing a few items to take into account:

1) The first item to review is the pervious areas versus impervious. Let's say a standard is 50% for each, it could be 60% pervious, 40% impervious as well, depending on the City. It means before any commencement of a design, we need to see if we can properly drain all the rainwater from the roofs and the slabs or any exterior solid floors. I have been working in a Code Enforcement case in the City of Santa Ana, a homeowner that covered more than the 50% of the front backyard. He was not only fined, but he also had to submit a landscape and hardscape plan to Planning department. 

2) Trellis: if they do not have a solid roof, like the ones I am showing next, no permit is required. A trellis is more a sort of garden decoration. This render is part of the first preliminaries for the project above. But at a certain point, the client requested a revision, adding a patio cover. There is a decorative wall between the fire pit area and the "solarium" at the rear. The idea was to have niches with ceramic vases, then, the client thought about a TV with a solid roof, etc. It drastically changed the scope of works. 

The wall, being high, would need a foundation and as it is free standing, the structural engineer would have to consider the wind, the earthquakes, apart from the vertical loads. The same is needed for a patio cover. If it is designed per the City's standard, with a flat roof, then no structural calculation is needed, if it is out of the standard, then structural design will be required.

A pit and a free standing wall. 

3) The outdoor kitchen: if it is a sort of countertop, at least an over the counter permit for water, gas and electrical connection is needed. There is an issue though, and it is the type of barbecue and location.

In fire hazard severity zones a fixed barbecue, fireplace, and/or any other fire fixture must comply with the tests fire department will request and the set backs, being a minimum standard 5' to constructions, roofs, property lines. A chimney could be added to an outdoor stove to reduce the set backs, but a free standing chimney may be expensive and could trigger structural calculations. The intention for these regulations is to protect one's house and the neighbors' from fires. 

A regular barbecue could be placed anywhere, after all it is movable. 

In the project I am using as an example, see there is a barbecue under the house trellis, but then I proposed to move it to the rear. I have another project in Huntington Beach, the plan checker allowed me to install the barbecue 3' away from the attached patio cover.

So, depending on the clients' choice, formal submittal of plans to Fire Department and Building and Safety must be submitted.

I have seen the most incredibly dangerous barbecue installation a couple of years ago, in Orange County. The homeowner put it right below a straw canopy, which was against the house. When I brought up the subject of danger, the homeowner replied that they never had a problem or an accident (!!!!). 

The free standing wall in the process of change from a niche to a TV that would need a roof if it is a standard TV and not an outdoor screen.

Two trellis here in a preliminary design phase. There is no need for a permit for open trellis. A jacuzzi is seen on the far right.

The umbrella as an alternative for a roof

4) Fences on the property line: wire or wood fences do not need a permit. But if a block fence is proposed, a permit is needed. The plan must show the location (site plan) and details are added. Standard details up to 5' 6" which is the general maximum height, except for the front set back which must be a maximum of 3' for cars visibility. The property line has to be determined by a surveyor and an agreement with the neighbor must be prepared to locate the construction of the wall. In the middle of the property line or in one's side. It has to be legally done, because in future years, if nobody claims the real dimensions of the lot, then the property line is virtually moved allowing one neighbor to have a bigger lot.

The free standing wall on the left. A block wall on the property line is shown .

5) Retaining walls: up to 3' the retaining wall is standard and could be part of another permit. But basically, it becomes like a planter. If the retaining wall is higher, plans and structural calculations and details have to be submitted to Planning and Building and Safety.

6) A common sense consideration about the trees location: I had to advise a client to remove beautiful young pines from a new retaining wall. He did not realize that in the future, the pines would grow and the roots would destroy the retaining walls. The same goes for fences.

Another client had several complaints about his neighbor because lots of branches and fruits were on his side. And the neighbor did not make any effort to trim the tree. I have not found out yet in California, but in my country the branches and fruits that  cross the property line belongs to the lot where the branches are projecting on. And the person has the right to trim and collect the fruits from the neighbor's tree.

7) Planters against the house are better if built as stormwater planters to collect the roofs water. A permit is not needed to add a planter in a backyard, but if the planter is part of the stormwater design, then it becomes part of an overall permit.

Obviously a trampoline does not need a permit.

8) Jacuzzis and swimming pools: needless to say a permit is required. The jacuzzi if it small, shallow and standard from a company, then no structural calculation is needed. There are restrictions about the location of the filters, heaters, regarding the distance to windows and property lines. Depending on the City, a soils report could be part of the submittal.

9) Gazebos: if the gazebo is bought from a company that has an approval already, like a construction system with a patent or license, then no permit may needed, every case is different. But if it is custom made, architectural and engineering plans must be submitted.

10) Storages: this is common day issue. Many homeowners have built their own storages. Legally, a storage must not have water and only a switch as electricity. Eventually, an inspector may accept one or two outlets. Why is this? Because people rent their storages as "dwellings". There is a requisite: maximum square footage 120 sq ft to avoid permits. If the storage is bigger, even a little bigger, full plans and calculations are required as if it was a house, and set backs apply as well. My advice is always the same, buy a standard storage 10'x12' and that's it, the cheapest solution. Do not try to fool the City, they look at the aerial pictures and will be able to measure the size.

Parking spots and landscape transitions

 

This is a commercial project in Southern CA from years ago. One of the challenges was to locate the parking spaces in a narrow linear lot. Under the hot sun.

The idea was to have two rows of mirrored parking spaces in 30o and in between, and breaking with the hard asphalt geometry, an organic textured path under the trees shadows.

The (shadowless) renders here are just concepts, the type of trees were not defined at this step, the curbs and handicap parkings are not shown here. 

The perspective ends up in a cactus and succulents garden. 

We are selecting succulents ground cover with desert flowers, a couple of flowering native shrubs and the evergreen trees. 

As I mentioned, the species were not defined at the time, because we were focused on Building and Safety construction plans. I am sharing the concepts as transition ideas organicism-hard construction geometries, full sun- shadows.  Concepts by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

The first cluster of succulents-cactus

The two renders above are without and with the incorporation of tall cactus. Most probably I would have relocated the tall ones as focal points for the perspectives. 

Here the transition concept is more clear.

The use of color is next to the building which was designed with cream colors of stucco. Then, the green is fading to the mountains. The idea was to energize the color the client had selected for the building.

Landscape and Architecture

 

Newport Beach City Hall. The building, the sidewalk and the lawn as a separate landscape entity. The trees are planted as an edge to block the view of the parking structure. It is an example of contrast. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives. 2017.

Recent landscape theory has focused in the tensions between culture, perception, on one side, and ecological function on the other. Architecture and landscape are precisely connected to culture and cognition. In an ample sense, architecture should include indoors and outdoors. Reuben M. Rainey provides three basic modes of relationship:

Contrast, merger and reciprocity. They do not always appear in their pure form. They allow extra meaning and complexity to the design work. These modes are based on the relationship between humans and nature.

“Contrast juxtaposes architecture with the natural or cultural landscape. A typical strategy sets a building against a relatively untouched swath of the natural environment. The building’s scale, profile, color and materials act in concert to create a powerful counterpoint to its immediate setting. There are no transitional gardens or terraces to act as a bridge, ..” (1)

Contrast is usually used by designers who consider architecture apart from nature, considering architecture more on the side or arts.

Merger is the opposite. “Here a building is made to appear an integral part of its natural or cultural landscape. In a natural landscape, the form of the building may reflect the surrounding topography or, in extreme cases, be placed underground so as not to be visible. (….) Often the view of nature that informs merger understands nature as a transcendent power that transforms human existence or evokes a sense of deep feeling states in the psyche.” (1)

The Hills at Valco, Cupertino, CA. Designed by arch. Rafael Vinoly. More than the 80% of the total site area is covered by an accessible green roof. It is clear example of a merger project.

A perspective of The Hills at Valco, Cupertino. 

Images from  https://www.theplan.it/eng/award-2017-mixedspace/the-hills-at-vallco-1

Westpoint Humanities Center. Designed by arch. Rafael Vinoly. Another example of a merger project. Photo from Westpointaog.org

Rainey gives the example of Frank Lloyd’s Wright Fallingwater. We used to discuss about this at the University, if the house was integrated with the landscape or not. The typical answer from the students was that the house was mimetic. And we professors did not agree, because of the right angles and the pure geometry across nature. Though it has elements of mimesis or memory of nature.

Frank Lloyd's Wright. Fallingwater House. Picture from  Wikipedia.

“Reciprocity is the most frequently employed of the three strategies. In it, buildings and landscape modify one another –each one to some degree is reflected in the other. Building plan may be projected quite literally into the immediately adjacent landscape; or, more subtly, indoor and outdoor spaces may share the same organization principles, expressed in such architectonic elements as terraces, pergolas, walls, arcades, pools, fountains and plants. A zone of transition may interlock or penetrate the plan of the building itself”.(1)

From all the many examples that come to my mind, the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragan is my predilect. He incorporated the bright color free standing walls into the landscape, but at the same time, the landscape would penetrate and participate into the indoor and outdoor architecture.

 

Fuente de los Amantes. Designed by arch. Luis Barragan. From Wikipedia

Casa Gilardi. Designed by arch. Luis Barragan. The pool inside the house. Note the primary colors. Wikipedia.

Another interesting example is the Bowers Museum, in Santa Ana. As seen from the street, the white Colonial building is in contrast with the gardens around. But, once we are inside, the many reflections of the windows and crystals displays inside bring the adjacent garden trees inside.

Reflections inside the Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, 2020.

 (1) Reuben M. Rainey. Architecture and Landscape: Three Modes of Relationship. Places. Vol 4. Number 4. 1988

https://placesjournal.org/assets/legacy/pdfs/architecture-and-landscape-three-modes-of-relationship.pdf

When Landscape and Hardscape Plans are Needed?

 

The preparation of landscape plans is usually requested for brand new houses and it is mandatory for new commercial projects, unless the scope of works is just a tenant improvement inside an existing retail and it is not inside an important shopping mall. Sometimes with the submittal of preliminary landscape and hardscape plans is enough.

We have worked with Westfield corp. and they have their own designs and standards, the transition between the retail and the open public space may require hardscape and landscape design. 

Cities like Santa Ana, always request preliminary landscape for tenant improvements (unless there is no way to have landscape).

For house remodels and additions it is not needed, but the project I am showing above was a room addition for a house on hillside in Fullerton, and the City requested a full survey of existing species. I think it was more a formality, the plan was approved without a single correction.

A project of addition/remodel in Beverly Hills that is on Mulholland Scenic Drive will need a clearance for landscape in Zoning department Los Angeles.

This one is a case of Code Enforcement in Santa Ana. The homeowner had more than 50% of impervious area at the front yard and the inspectors enforced him to submit some basic landscape plans to fix the situation. 

Preliminary landscape in Hemet for a Clothes Alteration shop.

Preliminary landscape for Site Plan Design Review Board, Santa Ana.

Note that landscape plans are usually completed with grading and water management plans, prepared by a civil engineer and based on our design. Sometimes the water management is not easy to resolve. This project (above) of offices addition in Los Angeles is not completed yet. This is what we call a "grandfather" job, where the existing has been approved many years ago and does not comply 100% with the current regulations. When an alteration and addition is proposed, we have to comply with the current codes as much as we can. In this lot we do not have enough permeable soil for the roof drainages. The grading engineer suggested an underground tank with a sump pump. We expect the City will request soils report and of course structural engineering for the tank, given the amount of water to drain. The planters are not enough.

This is a minor scope of works in Santa Ana. The owner of this retail wanted a new gate and iron fence, due to the homeless camping in the front gallery. The City requested preliminary landscape for the front yard. 

NOTE: The examples I am sharing in this post are for illustration purposes, not full projects. The landscape plans were designed by myself and I cropped the plans in order to protect the clients privacy.  They are part of construction documentations for new and remodel-additions projects, residential and commercial. The details and notes are not shown here.

An old project of a backyard landscape and hardscape. Two trellis, a rest area with shelves for statues, pit area, jacuzzi. Three different floor textures were proposed and the organic overall design in contrast with hard geometries.