“STAGNANT” TO STUNNING THROUGH PURPOSEFUL DESIGN IN NEWPORT COAST
Can form and function exist with ease? That is the question Chuck Le posed when he approached Garett McCorkle and Urban Landscape to update and re-purpose the grounds around his home.
“We don’t use the pool. The entire area feels stagnant,” confesses Le. “We want to entertain, enjoy and be comfortable in our own backyard.”
McCorkle and his team soon tackles significant design hurdles that include integrating the pool’s existing structural lines with the main house’s architecture in a new overall design, while increasing the function of the front yard, driveway and backyard.
BACKYARD BLISS
For the backyard, fresh elements are incorporated, reshaping the pool with impressive stone steps
and a lavish Jacuzzi. The existing structure is enlarged with a solid, rear-roof feature. To increase the wow-factor as an entertainment venue, a large flat-screen television is installed with an elaborate recessed drop-down hydraulic system – perfect for converting the space from high-tech family room into refined outdoor living space. For a unique environmental touch, McCorkle calls upon Scott Hutcheon (see “ Living Walls ” with Scott Hutcheon on page 100) to create a living wall, further blending form and function. >>
FRONT YARD GRANDEUR
The original facade of the main residence’s architecture was boxy and bland, not a complimentary view for the front yard’s grandeur. To reflect the overall aesthetics, cladding is added, an attention-getting detail that transforms the exterior appeal of the Le’s home. To leverage the front yard’s space and function, an impressive courtyard is crafted. Its centerpiece is a three-sided, negative-edge fountain highlighted with water rocks surrounding stepping-stones. Lending unique softscape and hardscape materials, the new front yard accentuates the dramatic driveway, featuring a new privacy and security gate.
McCorkle and Urban Landscape’s unique vision unites Le’s property with a fluent design that extends from the front through the backyard – a masterful reimagining of Le’s original request for a more comfortable, useful outdoor space.
“We’re very happy,” Le says. A simple statement in both form and function.
Don’t Forget to CLICK HERE for the full Project Gallery and Custom Video of the Le Residence
