Mount San Jacinto's Base Transformed by Groundwork's Landscape Design.

Groundwork Design, a Chicago-based landscape design studio led by Julie deLeon, has recently completed a private mid-century home located in the corner of Palm Springs, California. The landscape of the house is designed to mimic the nearby mountain range and create private settings while serving as an extension of the surrounding natural context. The house is built at the base of Mount San Jacinto, and the landscape extends beyond the limits of the property, creating a sparse, desert environment that presents an opportunity for the landscape.

DeLeon explained that "As you progress through the space, the sequence of the landscape becomes more lush, like a gradient." This gradient effect is achieved by creating clusters of small hills that create private settings while seamlessly blending in with the natural surroundings. The landscape is designed to be an extension of the interior program, with the outdoor space organized in a similar rectangular modern and formal fashion to the architecture of the house. The landscape, however, also has subtle curves that mirror the base of Mount San Jacinto, creating a harmonious integration of the built environment with the natural surroundings.

The interior program of the house is organized by o2 Architecture, which created a formal, modern, and rectangular fashion that allows for unobstructed views of the mountain from the great room. Throughout the rest of the house, "microclimates for visual and thermal comfort" were created, offering a comfortable and visually stunning living experience. The landscape, designed by Groundwork Design, seamlessly integrates with the interior program, creating a space that feels like a natural extension of the house.

One of the standout features of the landscape is the use of handcrafted pottery imported from Belgium. Atelier Vierkant pottery was used as a backdrop to the pool, adding a sculptural element to the landscape that is both beautiful and functional. DeLeon explained that "We wanted to highlight the handcrafted pottery as what they are – sculptural elements in the landscape. The planters themselves contain no plants in them, we felt the beauty of the planters deserved to be highlighted and plantings would diminish the sculptural aspect". This attention to detail is evident throughout the landscape and adds to the overall aesthetic of the space.

Another interesting element of the landscape is the use of locally sourced boulders. These boulders are placed in the planting beds to suggest the naturalization of the built landscape, blurring the boundaries between architecture and landscape. This technique creates a sense of harmony between the house and its surroundings, creating a seamless transition between the built environment and the natural landscape.

In conclusion, the landscape design of the mid-century home in Palm Springs, California, is a testament to the thoughtful and intentional work of Groundwork Design. The landscape seamlessly integrates with the interior program, creating a space that feels like a natural extension of the house. The use of handcrafted pottery and locally sourced boulders adds to the overall aesthetic of the space, creating a sense of harmony between the built environment and the natural surroundings. The landscape design creates private settings while mimicking the nearby mountain range, creating a space that is both beautiful and functional. Overall, the landscape design of this mid-century home is a stunning example of the thoughtful and intentional work of Groundwork Design.

 

Author: Jordan Felber

Landscape Designer: Groundwork Design

Architect: o2 Architecture

Photography: Lance Gerber

Pottery: Atelier Vierkant