BEYOND BOUNDARIES: A private sanctuary supercharges the local ecosystem
Built in the last decade of the 19th century for Los Angeles entrepreneur and real estate developer Wilbur Eustace Cummings, this Craftsman mansion predates the storied Laughlin Park residential enclave that surrounds it. The re-imaging of the property was initiated by the addition of a contemporary glass structure by the architect/owner. The landscape design bridges the new and the old, with a sustainable and radical approach to the classic estate garden.
As the largest natural wilderness within an American city’s limits, adjacent Griffith Park contains numerous ecosystems that nurture a multitude of native plants and wildlife species – more than 50 butterfly species and 200 bird species including 50 that are rare. Cummings Estate increases the stability and resilience of the ecosystem by reconnecting and strengthening native local habitats and nourishing the species and systems that rely upon them. Ninety-two percent of the new vegetation that constitutes the estate garden are pollinator-friendly plants. These plants provide sheltering and nesting opportunities for birds and their seeds, flowers and fruit sustain butterflies, birds and insects. The sustainable approach extends to the project infrastructure, which integrates a greywater system, rain garden, and permeable hardscape seamlessly into the design.
Other unique existing site conditions substantially informed the design. The original property, an 80-acre parcel, had been carved up over the years and the grand entry procession was destroyed. Today, family and visitors alike enter at the side of the house, lengthening the experience of arrival through the vast garden. The dramatic entry path, a zipper of black limestone pavers, initiates a procession leading to numerous destinations created throughout the property, flexibly designed for daily engagement and large-scale special events. This extended immersion in the landscape became an opportunity to choreograph a journey through distinct plant communities that characterize the sequence of outdoor spaces: from entry court, to playfield, to spa, to campfire, to pool, to a sunken outdoor kitchen and dining area.
Differentiation of spaces is reinforced by distinct and complimentary plant palettes, ranging from the blue garden at the entry, the black and gold garden at the plaza, a vibrant multi-color poolside border and a verdant green spa oasis. In proximity to the historic architecture, the planting design embraces detailed, formal composition with the use of conical junipers, fruit trees, and a mix of Mediterranean and subtropical plants. As a network of pathways draws you further away from the house, the plant culture evolves into a wild and informal woodland inspiring playful exploration of the property. Many existing and significant trees on site punctuate the fluid circulation and frame distant views to the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park observatory. The unique medley of sculptural plants and mature trees befits the context and scale of the stately site. Thousands of climate-appropriate plants are woven together to create a vibrant tapestry offering seasonal interest throughout the year.
Architecture offices involved in the design: Chet Architecture
Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Design year: 2016-2017
Year Completed: 2019
