CONTEMPORARY CLIFFSIDE

Nestled within an Oakland hillside, a midcentury residence is transformed into an indoor-outdoor sanctuary for two art lovers.

DTLA designed a series of outdoor rooms featuring a sumptuous material palette and custom landscape features to create a space of relaxation and discovery. We worked with local artisans to develop one-of-a-kind elements including a “light wall,” recycled redwood bench, and a natural boulder fountain. Light stone and stucco provides a neutral, yet texturally rich, backdrop for the clients’ sculptures and complements the vivid purples and oranges of the flowering plants in the landscape. Vivid bromeliads and deep maroon phormia punctuate key moments, while sculptural succulents and equiseta appear throughout for character and visual texture. Though drought-tolerance and color were the primary goals in the plant selection, the restrained and low-slung planting design enables unobstructed views of the Bay behind the home.

Design Team: David Thorne & Hilary Curtis

Architect: David Fagerstorm

Iron Work Artisan: Christi Azevedo

General Contractor: Mark Barnes

Landscape Contractor: Cavaliere & Sons

Photography: Treve Johnson