this large-scale landscape, created for an on-site family wedding, draws both inspiration and materials from the property’s location at the base of the topa topa mountains. situated on a dry creek bed, the site required considerable excavation and recompacting, yielding an abundance of boulders that were incorporated into long, dry-stacked retaining walls. flagstone patios and steel trellises front and back let the owners take in both sunrise and sunset views of the surrounding mountains and valley | ojai CA

view project plans and renderings here.

Grove of live oaks made a natural canopy for the ceremony

Front entrance is accessed by a gravel drive; at right, a flagstone patio off the master bedroom provides sunrise views

Flagstone pavers and steps lead either to the house’s main entrance or to a raised patio off the master bedroom

Side yard with mulch hardscaping; western red cedar screen flanks the upper tier of the back patio

Owner and architect talk in the shadows of the Topa Topa Mountains

Dry stacked stone retaining wall, one of many on the property constructed from materials unearthed on-site during excavation and grading

View from orange groves towards tiered rear stone patios

45 degree view of tiered back patio and steel trellis

Sail cloth, which will ultimately be replaced by wood slats, provides sun protection

View towards the orange groves that flank the property

Sunset reflected in the home’s rear windows

Succulents peek out from natural boulders harvested on-site

Detail of steel trellis

Detail of flagstone planter

all images by kurt jordan photography