Cacti Creates Privacy Oasis: Innovative Use of Desert Plants in a Los Angeles Home

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May 15, 2022

The front garden of this modern house, has been created with a dense screen of San Pedro cacti, replacing the need for a front fence.

Architects Annie Barrett of aalso architects and Hye-Young Chung of HYCArch have completely transformed an existing Spanish-style house in Los Angeles for a couple anticipating semi-retirement.

Working together with Landscape Architect David Hocker of Hocker Design, the front garden has been created with a dense screen of San Pedro cacti, replacing the need for a front fence.

The front garden of this modern house, has been created with a dense screen of San Pedro cacti, replacing the need for a front fence.

The cactus garden, which also includes some succulents, provides privacy for the home, without hiding the view of the street. A small patio with seating makes use of the low-maintenance front garden.

This modern house has a cacti garden, that includes some succulents, and has a small patio with seating.
This modern house has a cacti garden, that includes some succulents, and provides privacy for the home, without hiding the view of the street. A small patio with seating makes use of the low maintenance front garden.

The house has a minimalist rectilinear form clad in charred shou sugi ban rainscreen siding.

This modern house has a minimalist rectilinear form clad in charred shou sugi ban rainscreen siding.

At night, lighting highlights the tall cactus and the wood front door.

At night, lighting highlights the tall cacti and the wood front door of this modern house.

The wood-lined entry has lines that match the charred wood siding of the exterior.

A modern house with a wood lined entry to match the front door.
A modern house with a wood lined entry to match the front door.

Stepping inside, there’s a spacious, light-flooded living room with colorful artwork by Sol LeWitt and a Cocoon Aeris suspended black fireplace.

This spacious, light-flooded living room has colorful artwork by Sol LeWitt and a Cocoon Aeris suspended black fireplace.

The adjacent open plan dining area has a custom table design by Annie Barrett that showcases Dinesen Douglas Fir planks with a whitewash finish. Above the table, there are Foscarini Aplomb pendant lights, and the dining chairs are the Fritz Hansen Drop Chairs with custom upholstery.

This open plan dining area includes a custom design table made from Douglas Fir planks with a whitewash finish.
This open plan dining area includes a custom design table made from Douglas Fir planks with a whitewash finish, Foscarini Aplomb pendant lights, and Fritz Hansen Drop Chairs.

Nearby, the kitchen includes a large 11-foot island with a Neolith sintered porcelain countertop. A trio of stools made from walnut and maple add a natural element.

This modern kitchen includes a large 11 foot island with a Neolith sintered porcelain countertop. A trio of stools made from walnut and maple add a natural element.

At the rear of the home, there’s a wood deck that steps down to a small pool and hot tub. Small dedicated planters are filled with easy-to-care for plants.

At the rear of this modern home, there's a wood deck that steps down to a small pool and hot tub. Small dedicated planters are filled with easy-to-care for plants.
At the rear of the home, there's a wood deck and small dedicated planters that are filled with easy-to-care for plants.

Back inside, we can see the hallway connects the various areas of the home and showcases wide-plank Dinesen flooring, that also runs throughout the interior. An interesting design detail in the hallway is a small section of the cabinets dedicated to a cat’s food station and built-in litterbox.

A design detail in this modern hallway is a small section of the cabinets dedicated to a cat's food station and built-in litterbox.
A design detail in the hallway is a small section of the cabinets dedicated to a cat's food station and built-in litterbox.

The home has two offices, each with its own look. One has wall-mounted wood shelves and a desk, while the other has a white desk and a large black and white mural on the wall. Both offices overlook the backyard.

A modern home office with a wall mounted desk and wood shelving.
A modern home office with a white desk and contrasting wall mural.

The primary bedroom is characterized by a white oak vaulted ceiling whose skylight pulls morning light down into the space.

This modern primary bedroom is characterized by a white oak vaulted ceiling whose skylight pulls morning light down into the space.
This bedroom has a white oak vaulted ceiling whose skylight pulls morning light down into the space.

On one wall, custom CNC-milled panels with soft grooves create a crenulated texture of shadows.

Custom CNC-milled panels with soft grooves create a crenulated texture of shadows.

The home also has a room for stretching and meditation, that’s lined with softly ridged millwork that conceals a storage cabinet to accommodate yoga equipment, while white oak and felt wall panels and a custom ladder/peg system complete the space.

A wellness room for stretching and meditation, that's lined with softly ridged millwork that conceals storage cabinet to accommodate yoga equipment, while white oak and felt wall panels and a custom ladder/peg system complete the space.
A wellness room for stretching and meditation, that's lined with softly ridged millwork that conceals storage cabinet to accommodate yoga equipment.

To complete the wellness room, there’s a steam room that’s been designed with a custom teak bench and an integrated toilet seat.

A modern steam room that's been designed with a custom teak bench and integrated toilet seat.
Photography by Brandon Shigeta | Design Architect and Interiors: aalso architects (team: Annie Barrett – Principal Architect, Alex Collier – Project Manager) | Architect of Record: Hye-Young Chung Architecture (team: Hye-Young Chung – Principal Architect, Meaghan Pohl – Project Manager) | Construction: GHBW | Structural: Ibarra / Marco Ibarra Lighting: Theia Lighting / Kathryn Toth | Landscape: Hocker Design – Landscape Architect / David Hocker

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