Tiburon Terraces

A new, modern residence overlooking San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate required a thoughtful landscape that would tie it to the steeply sloping site. The landscape design had to solve a steep entrance sequence and take full advantage of the down-sloping hillside that presented spectacular views. Through a series of walls and terraces that echo the geometry of the home, the site was transformed into a sequence of spaces that beckon the visitor down the slope. A relatively gentle arrival path was created in the front yard through the use of engineered retaining walls softened by exotic plantings. Steps lead past a water feature to a Zen-inspired entry garden. The backyard transitions from more developed and active terraces near the home to a looser and more random meadow landscape that terminates at a naturalistic pond, creating dialogue with the adjacent open space. Site-appropriate plantings and permeable surfaces minimize water use and stormwater runoff.

2019 ASLA-NCC Merit Award

Architecture by Swatt + Partners Architects
Photography by Marion Brenner