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Born in the 60's Residence, Albuquerque NM
This contemporary home, built in the mid-1960s, needed new appeal. Quercus designed an update to compliment the clean architectural lines of the home. In front, a mix of new, drought-tolerant plantings was added, to build onto existing xeric plantings already in place. Fresh hardscape features were planned for the rear, in order to accommodate their occasional gatherings and create a literal outdoor extension of interior living areas. A shade ramada - outdoor fireplace - barbecue combination was designed, along with a steel wall to separate the main patio area of colored concrete from the spa and a fruit orchard. A blend of strong native and adapted plantings, with a small turf area, completes the backyard oasis.
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A Pueblo Revival Residence, Corrales NM
This busy family of six once had an Adobe home lacking plantings to soothe the senses. With the assistance of Quercus the owners implemented the designed progression of retreats to accommodate a countless list of family friends, walled from the outside. The entries to their home and pool house were conceived to invite people in, using bold masses of Powis Castle Sage and California Fuchsia, interrupted occasionally by high desert region signatures such as Thompson Yucca, Desert Willow, Arizona Rosewood, and Desert Prickly Pear. An interesting variety of other valley-adapted plantings grace the Anasazi-inspired pool area and outlying areas visible from the street. |
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Setting the Standard Residence, Albuquerque NM
A landscape architect's home should illustrate stewardship of the land. The property is bordered by a natural arroyo served by a small spring, and it is lined with Desert Live Oak, Gray Oak, and Apache Plume...all set into granite outcrops. Abundant wildlife still makes this and our area their home. Most of the property's interior is modeled on sustainable landscape principles, using gentle mounding to intercept this foothill location's rare rainfall. Paving is generous in size to accommodate outdoor living throughout the year, surrounded with native plantings from between central New Mexico and Chihuahua. Honey Mesquite, Damianita, Mariola, Beargrass, Mescal Agave, and Sotol are some dominant plants, while lush plants soften those bold forms in the master bedroom patio area, including Beaked Yucca, Autumn Sage, Banana Yucca, assorted Thyme, and potted plants. Inspiration abounds! |
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Desert Breezes Residence, El Paso TX
Near the base of the Franklin Mountains, a southwestern home was once set in a landscape of humid-region vegetation, struggling in the parched Chihuahuan Desert reality. Given the large area, Quercus was charged to design a water and fiscally efficient landscape that would provide a beautiful entry for guests and solitude for the owners. Trans Pecos natives including Sweet Acacia, Damianita, and Desert Honeysuckle were blended with other adapted plants, along with some notable existing vegetation retained. Hardscape features were left as-is, while the new planting and grading design enhanced those elements. |
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Corrales Casual Residence, Corrales NM
The challenge: tenacious weed growth and an acre of land. Quercus designed a series of unique spaces throughout the property, including two enclosed courtyard plantings with more lush plantings and flagstone paving, and a revegetated grassland / meadow area filling in the wide spaces between, framing a small patio under a grove of pruned Russian Olives. Arizona Sycamore, India Hawthorn, Lavender, Beargrass, and Giant Sacaton grace oasis areas. The twisted forms of Netleaf Hackberry and Prickly Pear, along with Desert Globemallow and Artichoke Agave enhance the drier areas of the site perimeter. Mission accomplished, assuming time and proper maintenance continues in order to heal the past scars of the land. |
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