Alter Gross Residence
Santa Monica, CA, 2012
The Alter Gross Residence is a redesign project for a level front yard of a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival home in Santa Monica.
The primary functional goal of the design is to provide an interactive outdoor space for a growing family.
The concept is based on implementing a food producing front yard that is coupled with drought tolerant plant species.
Elements that support the concept include the removal of all turf grass in favor of decomposed granite, raised vegetable and fruit beds, and a drought tolerant perimeter planting strip. All runoff from the roof and driveway is directed into an underground infiltration pit, whilst the perimeter planting bed receives excess runoff from the surface of the decomposed granite.