MODERN
XERISCAPE GARDEN

\ ARCHITECT

Rhonda Geller, BAK Architects

\ LOCATION

Bel Air, CA

\ SCOPE

This design project was a true collaborative effort between the client, the architect and myself. When she first moved in, the client was confronted with a sterile-looking 60’s ranch house and a yard consisting of a strip of lawn and a hodgepodge of scraggly shrubs.

The client requested a low-maintenance, water-thrifty garden. She told me to be bold, creative and whimsical and to create a modern garden which would complement her contemporary art collection. I replaced the water-thirsty front lawn with a “sea” of jewel-toned succulents. Native Mediterranean fan palms were craned in to add an instant mature look. A backdrop of Pampas Grass and bamboo softened the sleek lines of the new facade.

In the rear yard, I designed a patio consisting of a series of interconnected arcs. Undulating low walls serve as impromptu seating for guests. A channel of turquoise glass-gravel echoes the winding forms of the raised planter beds. Spectacular views of the Getty Center are framed by rare Dracaena dracos.