Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, California

Creating Spaces

Location: Palo Alto, CA
Design Type: Residential

Location

Palo Alto, California

Design Type

Residential

TBA

Abc
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Aerial view of outdoor space
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Aerial view of property
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Front lawn and walkway
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA View of outdoor space and patio
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA front entry
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Gated driveway
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA backyard area concrete and plantings along walk way
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Outdoor walkway at dusk
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA View of back entry
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA View of outdoor patio and plantings
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Driveway entry at dusk
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA back fence at dusk
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Outdoor seating and firepit
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Aerial view of outdoor seating
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA outdoor kitchen and fence
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA outdoor counter and back fence
  • Creating Spaces Palo Alto, CA Address signage

Project Overview

A charming, recently built home set on a corner lot with required setbacks left little room for outdoor use. To maximize the potential of the surrounding spaces the side yard was enclosed by a low wall, a sliding driveway gate and thick plantings. This new courtyard, formerly an unusable sloped lawn, features a sitting area around a fire feature, a row of Yoshino Cherry and existing AC fenced from view. Contiguous with the side yard is another courtyard space between the house and garage. This space was expanded for use by extending the porch. A column blocking view from the interior entrance hall was removed. Low maintenance planting, citrus trees and a small kitchen garden enhance this courtyard. Behind the garage an entertainment bar was added with refrigerators, sinks, and trash compartments neatly hidden behind a cast in place concrete structure topped with a custom-made concrete countertop. An electronically controlled canopy rolls out when needed. Well-crafted stone terraces replaced old material, and beautifully aligned concrete was used on walks and the driveway. Lighting extends the use of the new spaces into the evening. Plantings nest the formerly exposed home into the site.

Collaborators

General Contractor

Concrete Construction

Steel Beam Installation

Metal Fabricator

Nathan Merrill

Electrician

Photography

Photography