Project Spotlight: Making The Most Of Limited Space In Mission Hills

The greater San Diego metro area features many types of residential development, from urban high rises in Downtown to sprawling hillside estates in La Jolla and everything in between. One reason for this diversity is the area’s unique topography: narrow valleys bordered by expansive rocky hillsides, with large expanses of boggy wetlands limiting the usable space.

This unique topography contributes to San Diego’s abundant beauty, but also presents difficult challenges to both builders and homeowners. A part of this challenge is creating usable and attractive outdoor spaces on lots whose limited size and topography require a creative approach.

This was the situation facing one Mission Hills resident, who found what little outdoor space was available on the property was falling into disrepair. Determined to beautify and get some use out of their yard, the owner got in contact with Torrey Pines Landscape Company to see what their team of seasoned landscape architects could do.

Project Scope

The property is situated on a steep lateral slope, with the second-story living space necessitating a staircase leading from the bottom-floor garage and driveway. The front yard was graded upslope, transitioning from the concrete driveway to an expansive planter that reached the property’s borders.

The backyard featured a narrow brick patio that terminated in a series of retaining walls and terraced planters. Narrow staircases connected the patio to the house and up towards the back of the property, which contained a raised bed featuring citrus trees and scattered plants.

The team removed the slippery brick patio and replaced it with new concrete. Redesigned staircases would connect the new patio to the home and the back of the property, ending in a reorganized top-level terrace.

The front yard would be completely redesigned, with roughly 60% of the space being leveled to accommodate a usable terrace. The rest would consist of a redesigned bed held in place by a new retaining wall.

Front Terrace

The existing plant bed needed to be augmented in favor of a three-level system of terraces. The bottom level consists of a narrow planter with gravel interspersed with plantings that border the property and transition up the driveway into a walkway to the second level. 

The second level provides more usable space for the property owner. A square section of the space was leveled to provide an elevated platform and filled with ⅜” crushed gravel for foot traffic. Drought tolerant plants border the space to provide a splash of color, and two new Olive trees were planted to provide shade for the terrace once they matured.

The third section maintains the natural hillside. The team replaced the old, poorly maintained trees and flora with a more organized and colorful series of plantings, including native plants and low water tropicals.

The newly constructed retaining wall supports each level and maintains the hillside’s integrity. The walls’ minimalist design and stark white coloration would provide continuity with the house’s design.

Backyard Patio & Staircase

The back patio was in poor condition when the team arrived, with bricks damaged, missing, or covered with moss. The state of disrepair represented a significant safety hazard, as it would become very slippery when wet, necessitating its complete removal. Concrete slabs were poured in their place, expanding the usable space and ensuring the area did not become slick once wet.

The retaining walls, necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the steep incline, could not be removed, which required some creative problem solving from the Torrey Pines team. The mixed materials used in the walls made a unified aesthetic difficult, but the team whitewashed the brick to tone down the coloration and blend it more easily with the concrete.

The narrow staircase connecting the house to the backyard was removed in favor of a broad concrete staircase to help open up the space. The staircase to the upper terrace was revitalized and added a handrail for safety. 

The upper level terrace was replanted with a more organized mix of low water flora. A new gravel footpath, timber steps and lighting fixtures were also installed  in order to make the space more accessible and usable.

With that, the project was complete. Torrey Pines Landscape Company had completely redesigned the front yard to open up a usable space and organize the aesthetic, while the backyard had been reconstructed so that the patio and top terrace were once again accessible.

There are no ends to the challenges presented by San Diego’s rugged natural charm, but Torrey Pines Landscape Company never fails to answer the call. If you have a unique property in need of landscaping help, don’t hesitate – Call today!