Contemporary gardens emphasizing drought-tolerant species wrap historic groves of oaks and sycamores, renewing a seasonal arroyo to manage water across this hillside site.

Foothill Road

Beverly Hills, California

Overlooking Beverly Hills

A four-acre retreat overlooking the Flats of Beverly Hills contains a seasonally wet/dry arroyo, arcing grids of silvery olives, and an expansive plateau where majestic native sycamores frame coveted views to downtown Los Angeles.

On a property that has been in the same family for two generations, the site is home to a grove of coast live oaks and western sycamore, which were preserved through a dramatic site transformation. The land is divided between steeply sloped meadows that encourage wildlife and limit water consumption, and garden plateau for domestic life around a new house designed by Los Angeles architect Michael Palladino.

2542 N110 — An existing Live Oak grove is restored and expanded. A new meandering site circuit path activates this once underused space, allowing shade and cinematic views of the property and city beyond.

08 2542 N35 RETOUCHED — A 25-meter tiled pool and spa defines this lower-level activity area of the site. A layer of Crepe Myrtle set within the pool deck creates dense shade and sets off the naturalized arroyo beyond.

2542 N129 — Early concept pool sketch explores a frame of shade projecting out towards the arroyo beyond and below.

Previous condition, depleted landscape

A drive and entry court sensitively preserve intimate domestic spaces.

Arrival Experience

The drive and entry court sensitively preserve intimate domestic spaces. An entertainment terrace frames a tiled 25-meter pool jutting out over a meadow mix of creeping wild rye, slender veldt grass, berkeley sedge, and is accented with pink muhly, fairy tales fountain grass, and lomandra breeze. A rose garden, kitchen garden for vegetables, and varied fruiting trees furnish the family with with culinary and horticultural abundance.

To manage the movement of water on site, an arroyo planted with ferns, liriope, huechara, iris, and calla lily intercepts and detains runoff from the site’s uppermost elevation to the lowland groves of oaks and olives.