Honor Award
Secret Garden
San Francisco, CA
Shades of Green Landscape Architecture
Lead Landscape Architect: Ive Haugeland
Client: Troon Pacific
High above the streets of San Francisco sits a secret garden. Robust concrete walls and wooden gates shield it from the outside world. A stone staircase curves through the hillside garden of mature trees and cascading vines. At the top of the stairs, an expansive garden opens up, offering breathtaking views of the city and bay.
The property's historic house and cottage were preserved, and the buildings are tucked towards the edges, making the garden the centerpiece. Situated twenty feet above street level, the garden is built on structure above a garage and lower living floor that were excavated into the hillside. Providing ample soil depth to support mature vegetation was one of many design challenges in creating a flourishing garden.
The design of the garden honors the spirit of the original garden, with lush planting and amenities that provide opportunities for relaxation. Wellness is the theme for the property, and both people and nature thrive. Bees and butterflies enjoy the pollinator flower beds and a resident hawk visits to take dips in the pool.
