Words by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Jody Beck.
When designer Larry Myers of Alfresco Living Design renovated his 1330-square-foot corner lot rancher, his vision was to create a harmonious interior that would visually connect to the home’s landscape. Unobstructed sightlines on the interior and the repetition of materials in a simplified palette help merge the interior and exterior in a singular experience. To create open sightlines, interior partition walls were removed to allow the open concept layout to connect to the outdoors.
Following the natural topography and contours of the land, Myers designed a lush private sanctuary with multi-levels connected by pathways and floating concrete steps. Small vignettes woven through the landscape add interest and guide your eye to a range of inviting seating areas.
Myers adds that “the garden is keyed into the adjacent woodland setting and is typical of a ‘Pacific Northwest style’ with variations.” The primary colour palette — deep greens with pops of burnt reds and blue-violet — mimic the hues found in Myer’s vibrant art collection. Most of the plant material is broadleaf evergreens, primarily southern hemisphere species. Small footprint trees such as Lagerstroemia, Heptacodium and Azara connect with the landscape as a whole.
For Myers, balanced landscape designs require elemental components. For his own landscape, he juxtaposed classical and modern urns to create a heightened tension and interest. Both physical and visual plant textures evoke emotional responses and invite tactile experiences. Textural variety was utilized to contrast plants in groups and minimize strong architectural lines.
The curving lines of the floating concrete stairway invite the eye on an intriguing journey and as Myers states, “the pathways were designed to serve as a conduit connecting the various garden sections as well as drainage infrastructure. Drain curtains and floating stone steps with steel risers were used to filter and eliminate surface runoff.” The step lighting creates a calm ambiance and adds depth and dimension to the natural contours of the landscape.
The form and shape of plants and other objects in the garden work to define space, enclose areas and provide architectural interest. Grouping plants display their contrasting shapes and hues to offer a variety of effects. Many of the plant containers were specifically fabricated for this project. In order to compensate for the property’s “off-aspect” orientation, a number of seating areas were created to allow for seasonal and daily preference for sun or shade. “Creating dappled lighting in gardens is amongst my favourite,” says Myers.
Expanding the renovated home’s livable space with multiple seating areas, Myers juxtaposed natural and modern elements, added lighting, a water feature and lush greenery to transform the rancher’s landscape into a private urban oasis.
