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Oakland Art Deco
An impeccably restored 1930s home in Oakland CA was in desperate need of a renovated garden: a blank canvas for the client/professional botanist to ply his plant craft. A strict set of design parameters; the need to replace structurally compromised retaining walls close to the rear of the house while carving patio-level entertaining room, and the desire to keep all existing trees (maintaining most grade levels), posed a challenging backdrop to the search for the creation of an art deco-esque, formal organizational principle. Concrete planter boxes and urn- landing pads are softened by a gestural and welcoming grand staircase move as one enters the garden. Peruse Sunset Magazine’s September 2017 feature on the garden here.
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld photo 8.33](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/4-830-wide.jpg)
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![Project Page](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Project-Page.jpg)
![Everyday Beauty](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Everyday-Beauty.jpg)
Architecture is the reaching out for the truth. – Louis Kahn
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld existing house](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/3-1.jpg)
![Oakland Art Deco existing Barensfeld](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Existing-Site.jpg)
Design is a joyous discovery. – Dan Kiley
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld render 5](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17.jpg)
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld photo 8.6](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/5-1.jpg)
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld render 2](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/19.jpg)
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![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld 1](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/29.jpg)
![Oakland Art Deco_Barensfeld sketch 4](https://barensfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/28.jpg)
Size:
5000 SF Rear Yard
Completion Date:
Fall 2012
Project Team:
Mary Barensfeld Architecture, Mary Barensfeld
Client:
Chris Groves & Eric Schulz
Contractor:
5 Elements Design
Planting Design by Eric Schulz
Photographer:
Thomas J. Story
Mary Barensfeld
Recognition:
Featured in the following publications.