A HOUSE ORGANIZED AROUND THE GARDEN
The Burt Residence in Brentwood is organized around a series of gardens and outdoor spaces that connect the different parts of the home. At the street, the house steps back to preserve and frame a mature sycamore tree, creating a natural transition from the neighborhood into the property.
The main living spaces are arranged around a central yard that becomes the focus of the house. The pool, guest house, and surrounding landscape extend the living spaces outdoors, while large openings and covered areas create a continuous relationship between the interior and garden.
The plan is organized to give the family a range of spaces for gathering, entertaining, and privacy. Rather than treating the landscape as an area surrounding the house, the garden becomes part of the circulation and daily experience of the home.
Environmental performance was also considered as part of the design. The roof is oriented to accommodate solar panels, while passive design strategies, high-performance insulation, and materials including wood and fly ash concrete contribute to the home's long-term performance.
The result is a large family home that is shaped as much by its landscape as by its interior spaces, with the garden providing the structure for how the house is experienced.
PROJECT TEAM: COLBY MAYES, ERIC STEPHENS, TREVOR KIDD, ERIKA TORRENTS, TIMOTHY WALSH, CLAIR VAN DER SWAN
COLLABORATORS: BRICY COMPANY (STRUCTURAL), OBANDO & ASSOCIATES INC. (CIVIL)
