Landscaping: Chaparral 001

The objective for this garden on Lake Chaparral in south-east Calgary is for curb appeal in the front and to maximize the function of the backyard for entertaining, privacy, and family time. The backyard features a fire-pit close to the lake for four seasons of use plus a spa with built in deck surround, and a generous lawn area framed by borders of hardy plants for privacy and year round interest.

One of the design challenges of this site is that because it is a reverse pie (narrower at the back) maximizing the view and usage of the lake while also providing privacy became conflicting objectives. We took advantage of the slope to retain the area for the main back patio and fire-pit area lower which helped with privacy, as did incorporation of some strategically positioned trees. A generous amount of lake frontage direct from the patio was possible and the view of the lake from the house remained unobstructed.