Preserving Character In A Point Loma Landscape

Point Loma has some of San Diego’s most memorable residential landscapes, in part because many properties reflect the neighborhood’s rich postwar history. In both the architecture and the aged, mature trees, each house carries decades of history that many modern homeowners want to preserve and improve on rather than replace outright.

That was the case for one Point Loma homeowner, who wanted to modernize aspects of their landscape without eliminating its historical flavor. Decades-old trees dominated the garden’s lighting, while a flagstone pathway flowed naturally through the yard, connecting the stone and wrought-iron gate to the light-washed wooden decking that surrounded the house.

As some of the trees began to show their age and needed removal for safety, the decision was made to use the resulting openings to make much-needed updates. They hired our landscape construction design team to help incorporate the newer elements into their home’s existing aesthetic, creating a purposeful continuity between the new and the old.

The Challenge

The project centered on three primary additions: a covered spa pergola with new decking, a separate fire pit area, and a redesigned entry from the street. While each would incorporate more modernist design elements, they also needed to complement the landscape’s more established elements.

Several mature trees had to be removed, including one that fell during a windstorm and others that were taken out for safety reasons. Their removal altered the light conditions throughout the garden, turning areas that had once been heavily shaded into zones of partial or full sun.

This change in lighting required a shift in the plant selection used in the landscape, as planting that works under a dense canopy likely can’t tolerate a sudden increase in exposure. Our design and construction teams had to adapt the planting plan to those new conditions while preserving the mature character that made the property distinctive in the first place.

The Entry: Opening The Property

The original stone wall and metal gate gave the property a closed, dated appearance from the street. In its place, we created an entryway to the landscape that feels more open and inviting while still screening the garden from direct view.

Vertical wooden slat fencing now lines the approach, allowing filtered light and partial glimpses of the planting beyond. The slats further increased visibility and reduced the sense of enclosure once you passed through the gates.The first stage of continuity was established here, as the stone veneer walls matched the same stone veneer seat wall at the fire pit farther into the property. 

The new entry walls were built with stacked stone veneer. The stone’s irregular profile gives the pillars an older, more natural presence, helping them sit comfortably beside the property’s mature trees and established planting. The same stonework reappears at the low seat wall fire pit area giving both spaces a cohesive aesthetic.

A  basket weave patterned brick walkway now leads from the street to the gate, replacing the original brick tiling with a more ornate approach. Ornamental grasses and broadleaf evergreens soften the base of the fencing, while path lighting guides the entry in the evening.

The Spa Area: A New Centerpiece

The spa area marked the most radical departure from the original design, adding a modern flair to purposefully contrast the postwar architecture of the home. Our team designed the space and built the pergola & decking, while Zier Pools handled the construction of the spa tub.

Our carpenter built the pergola with black steel columns, wood beams and rafters, and a solid roof that provides shade and cover from the elements. The black powder-coated posts and lattice screen are what give the structure its more comtemporary look and are directly contrasted with the home’s soft grey and white coloring. Low voltage lights on the beams create a softer evening atmosphere without overwhelming the structure’s simple aesthetic.

The new spa deck wraps around the spa in warm-toned wood, creating a comfortable platform for relaxing around the water. One of the most demanding details was tying the new decking into the existing deck at the house. The new boards had to match not just the color of the old material, but its grain, tone, and expected aging characteristics, or the transition may read as patched.

The deck connects the property’s older elements to the spa’s modern aspects, allowing the new pavilion to function as an extension of the existing outdoor living space. The back end of the spa area culminates in a long bench, allowing users to lounge.

Behind the spa, a black metal trellis supports climbing vines that will eventually form a living privacy screen. Around the deck, ornamental grasses create a soft, textural border that helps transition from the built surface to the lawn and planting beds.

The Fire Pit

The fire pit area occupies its own zone on the property, set apart from the spa by material and mood. Instead of wood decking, the space is set on a gravel pad surrounded by the stacked-stone seat wall. The same stone veneer that matches the entry walls.

At the center is a Lumacast fire bowl connected to a dedicated gas line. The minimal modernist construction and black coloration of the slate bowl act as another purposeful juxtaposition to the property’s existing style. Black Adirondack chairs surround the bowl, creating a relaxed gathering area that feels informal without feeling temporary. The change in ground material from lawn and mulch to gravel signals that the visitor has entered a different room.

Planting Around A Changing Canopy

The planting throughout the property had to respond to both the existing garden and the new light conditions created by tree removal. Mature trees were preserved wherever possible to help maintain the property’s sense of age and enclosure. Where trees were lost, the planting scheme had to adjust to stronger sunlight and a more open canopy.

Ornamental grasses play an important role in that transition. They soften the new elements in the landscape and create a living texture that shifts and ripples with the breeze. Broadleaf evergreens give the entry and garden a mature look and feel, with pollinator-attracting perennials dappled in to the landscape. The new jasmine vines growing up the spa’s new trellises also provide an aromatic screen to enhance relaxation.

Creating Cohesion Between New And Old

The completed project reads as a single, cohesive property rather than a series of unrelated additions. The spa area, fire pit, and entry each have a revitalized, unique look, yet they still connect to the more established elements of the property.

For San Diego homeowners considering a landscape project that adds new outdoor living spaces while respecting what is already there, look no further than Torrey Pines Landscape Company. We specialize in building around a property’s existing strengths and enhancing them with modernized additions. Call today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can new landscape elements be designed to match an existing property’s style?

Yes. When a property already has established materials, mature plantings, and an existing design language, new additions can be built to complement that character. The key is selecting materials that coordinate with what’s already there. Matching stone profiles, wood tones, and planting textures, while designing proportions that sit comfortably within the existing landscape.

What happens to the planting plan when mature trees are removed?

Removing mature trees changes the light conditions across the garden, sometimes significantly. Areas that were heavily shaded may suddenly receive partial or full sun, which means existing plantings may no longer be suited to their location. A landscape design team can assess the new conditions and adjust the planting palette to species that thrive in the updated light environment while maintaining the property’s established aesthetic.

Does Torrey Pines Landscape Company work with other contractors on a project?

Yes. On projects that involve specialized installations like pools or spas, Torrey Pines coordinates with other contractors while handling the surrounding landscape design, hardscape construction, and structural elements. This project included spa installation by Zier Pools, with Torrey Pines designing the space and building the pavilion, decking, and surrounding landscape.