Mini Garden

As the owners of the only remaining private residence on a block of beautiful, historic townhomes converted for commercial use, our clients for this project were looking to reclaim their backyard. Our mission was to transform the space from its current use as a parking lot for four cars into an urban oasis that is visually and physically connected to the interior of their home.

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The existing kitchen was renovated to open the house to the new garden. A wall of sliding glass doors opens to a charming covered porch, flooding the galley-style space with natural daylight and creating a direct view out to the newly transformed outdoor space accessed down a short flight of steps.

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A single parking spot was retained, and the rest of the site was surrounded by robust fencing to demarcate the garden area and screen from the remaining asphalt arena. Due to local restrictions that require fences to be partially open, we designed a layered volumetric partition of overlapping slats to offer as much privacy as possible while still conforming with the rules.

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Within the enclosed space, a buffet of sensorial richness was created to out-compete the coming and going of vehicles on the other side. A trio of evergreen spruce trees were planted on-axis from the kitchen doors, with a small circular water feature in front to add a delicate touch and gentle babble to the hard surfaces of its surrounds.

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A pathway leads past the side of the kitchen, alongside a row of hornbeam trees and opposite a row of linden trees that attract cardinals and other bird species to the garden, and screen the neighboring property. A Japanese maple is also visible from the glass kitchen doors, its bold hues contrasting the bright white and pale marble of the interior. Additional planting below the trees adds another layer of color and texture, softening the St. Marc Stone paving upon which outdoor seating is placed for enjoying this intimate oasis.

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Team:

Sophie Robitaille  Partner, ASLA, CSLA, AAPQ

Andrew Curtis  Partner, AIA, MRAIC, LEED BD+C

Teressa Peill  Landscape Architect, CSLA, AAPQ

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Contractor:  L’Artisan

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Photography © Marc Cramer