Accessible Elegance in Cordera
Located in the Cordera neighborhood, this new-build home provided a blank slate for our design team. Our wonderful client came to us with several goals: a low-maintenance landscape that didn’t sacrifice aesthetics, a welcoming space for friends and family to gather and enjoy the stunning views, and finally, creating a solution to help our client, who has mobility concerns, turn their sloped back yard into a place they could readily access and enjoy.
The primary challenge was to adjust the existing slope to create an accessible and enjoyable environment. By incorporating a stacked stone retaining wall, we were able to reduce the overall slope and create a level space for the patio and outdoor living features. We then designed a concrete pathway with gentle slopes and strategically placed landings to serve as rest stops, leading from the driveway to the outdoor living area, ensuring ease of movement throughout the landscape.
At the heart of the outdoor living space is a large natural gas fire pit, which serves as a natural gathering point. We included a Siloam stone seat wall, placed large bench boulders, and left space for wheelchair-accessible seating. This area was specifically situated to take advantage of the breathtaking mountain views.
Artificial turf was selected to provide the look of a lush lawn without the maintenance demands of natural grass, and it offers an extremely durable surface that provides excellent accessibility.
To further deliver on the client’s vision for a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape, we designed bed spaces with gentle berms, accent boulders, and dry creek beds. These beds are filled with drought-tolerant, hardy, and beautiful trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials arranged in a cottage-style planting design.
This project transformed a challenging sloped yard into an inviting and accessible backyard retreat. The thoughtful use of concrete pathways, landings, and retaining walls allows the client to move freely and enjoy every aspect of their outdoor space. The combination of natural Siloam stone elements and xeric plantings creates a cohesive look that blends accessibility with beauty. Now, the client has a fully functional, low-maintenance yard that meets both their practical needs and aesthetic desires; an outdoor space they can truly enjoy.