Food production, gathering and flexibility — those were the three cornerstones a pair of adventurous Ogden homeowners brought to Io Landarch when planning their ideal backyard design. Avid travelers and self-appointed foodies who love sharing their global influences with friends through cooking, they had a vision for a space that would capture their eclectic tastes while still feeling like home.
Like many northern Utah properties, this site presented significant elevation change throughout. Shalae Larsen, ASLA, PLA and Principal at Io Landarch, used these challenging conditions to her advantage when organizing this landscape overhaul. Gabion walls and board-formed concrete retainers emphasize the upward slopes and create experiential layers throughout the tight urban space.
“The series of terraces in both the front and back yards gave each area a distinct spatial character, while still allowing the landscape to feel connected,” Larsen says.
The variety of grades also opened the door to more prioritized organization. On the lower level closest to the home, the Io team imagined a customized outdoor living area. A cedar hot tub, quaint dining area and dedicated parking for the family’s food truck create an inviting patio atmosphere. For larger gatherings, Larsen says, the adjacent driveway can be easily integrated into the yard’s architecture, allowing for celebrations to expand well beyond the patio’s existing footprint.
By placing the harvest garden and greenhouse at the rear of the property, the beds are prepped for success with optimized light exposure thanks to the terrace’s higher elevation. “This arrangement gives the garden a sunny, dedicated space, while also allowing the more social portions of the landscape to connect directly with the driveway,” Larsen explains
Throughout the design, sculptural plantings such as kniphofia, cutleaf suman, hardy hibiscus and ‘Green Twister’ echinacea give the garden an ethereal and exotic ambiance that is balanced by a baseline of regional water-wise plantings common to Utah Gardens.
“It feels collected rather than overly formal, which fits both the personality of the homeowners and the character of the new Victorian-inspired home.”
Io Landarch
