San Jose · Front yard, entry routes and driveway

A garden that greets you

A front yard reimagined as a welcoming, low-water garden with easy, generous paths and lighting for the evening.

Location: San Jose, California
Scope: Front yard, entry routes and driveway
Designed for: Arriving, lingering, low upkeep
Design: Gnuchev & Partners

A garden that greets you, San Jose, at night — The entry walk by day and at dusk.

A garden that greets you, San Jose, by day — The entry walk by day and at dusk.

The brief

The owners asked for an elegant front yard that is easy to move through and easy to keep. The paths use broad curves instead of sharp turns, the main route is wider than usual, and there is extra room beside the driveway.

Planting stays low and orderly, with river rock in place of bark. A curved seat wall under the shade tree, on decomposed granite, gives the garden a place to sit.

Easy to move through, easy to keep.

Up the path as the lights come onFilm

Backyard with covered kitchen and dining areas beside a lawn

Next · No. 11 · San Jose

Under the big tree