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A tall tree perfectly aligns with the lap pool. The pool furniture is from Modernica's case study line.

The Ramseys finished the pool after they moved in. Although Alterstudio had also designed a cabana, the couple decided not to build it in favor of keeping more outdoor space. Chairs and lounges by Loll join an umbrella by California Umbrella.

The fire pit area is arranged near the rear of the yard, where lush plantings create the feeling of an urban oasis.

The architects design for the backyard showcases an outdoor deck, bleacher seating, a lush grass area, and a deck with seating and a fire pit.

The new house is outfitted with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office, and an open floor plan that connects to the outdoors. "The cladding is a smooth painted white plaster,

Friche Atelier landscaped the shaded backyard, where an Établi table and Le Balconier chairs cater to alfresco dining.

Casa Cosmos floor plan

The black front door opens to reveal a courtyard that leads to down to the backyard pool. With an eye to sustainability, the couple replaced the existing concrete with gravel.

“We wanted to build on the idea of a borrowed view. Because of the layered foliage, everything feels like it’s on our property, but it’s not,” Mark says.

10 apertures of different sizes arranged above the pool illuminate the front yard with natural light.

The most costly part of the build was an additional layer of roofing over the concrete slab, which was essential to keep the interior cool.

A building with such a deep connection to the land deserves a landscape to match, so Jobe Corral brought in David Mahler of Environmental Survey Consulting for gardening and hardscaping that could step up to meet the rustic-modern architecture. "We wanted someone who was going to be able to stitch rural and modern together," says Jobe. Maher, skilled in habitat restoration, brought in native species and avoided hard-edge lines, and even installed a small, creek-like water feature intended to look as if it had always been there. Mosquito Fish swim up and down the waterway.