Case Study

Modern Coastal Retreat

Terraced outdoor living with durable hardscape, clean geometry, and soft planting edges.

Hardscape & Build
Newport Beach, CA
2024

Overview

This coastal property needed outdoor living space that felt durable enough for daily use and refined enough for entertaining. The solution was a hardscape-led composition softened with planting, rather than a garden scattered around patio pieces.

The hardscape needed to feel permanent, but never heavy.

Before

Before: Disconnected surfaces and weak hierarchy

The outdoor areas felt pieced together rather than composed. Circulation was unclear, and the planting did little to support the architecture.

Fragmented outdoor zones
Poor relationship between hardscape and planting
Limited evening usability

After

After: Architectural structure with livable softness

We established strong horizontal lines and clear zones, then layered in planting and light so the project feels composed rather than severe.

Clear entertaining, lounging, and movement zones
Hardscape detailing designed for longevity
Low-water planting with year-round structure
Lighting that extends use without glare

Scope

Terraced entertaining zones
Large-format paving and edge detailing
Integrated planting pockets and irrigation
Evening lighting for circulation and dining

Materials

Large-format pavers
Poured concrete bands
Soft grasses and coastal planting
Powder-coated metal accents

Systems

Reworked drainage plane
Outdoor lighting scenes
Low-water irrigation strategy

Gallery

The project in atmosphere and detail

Partner Lens

The garden was detailed to support the architecture's lines first, then soften them with planting at the edges.

Project Details

Program

Outdoor living + entertaining

Scope

Hardscape, lighting, planting

Priority

Durability with restraint

Outcome

Coastal calm without beach-house cliche

Signature Moments

A long terrace line that organizes the entire yard
Planting softened into the geometry instead of sitting beside it
Night scenes built around warm thresholds and path edges

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Start a Project

The next step should feel calm, not transactional.

Share the property, the mood, and the level of transformation you want. We will come back with a clear next move for design, build, stewardship, or partner coordination.

1 to 2 business day response

Projects typically begin at $25,000

Partner inquiries welcome

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GreenPlace

Cultivating…

After: Architectural structure with livable softness

We established strong horizontal lines and clear zones, then layered in planting and light so the project feels composed rather than severe.

Clear entertaining, lounging, and movement zones

Hardscape detailing designed for longevity

Low-water planting with year-round structure

Lighting that extends use without glare

Project Details

Program

Outdoor living + entertaining

Scope

Hardscape, lighting, planting

Priority

Durability with restraint

Outcome

Coastal calm without beach-house cliche

Signature Moments

A long terrace line that organizes the entire yard
Planting softened into the geometry instead of sitting beside it
Night scenes built around warm thresholds and path edges