Growth Spurt

The deck, fashioned from ipe, was built around one of the property’s many granite outcroppings. An earthen roof was planted with the same varieties of sedum that were added to the front of the cottage. Photo by: Mark Mahaney

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ivy softens the hard edges of the cinder-block structure. Photo by: Roy Zipstein

Greenery bursts out to the street from the side yard of Paul Bernier and Joëlle Thibault’s home. Photo by: Alexi Hobbs

A wide cut across the top of the structure made room for a second-floor courtyard where the family can catch some sun but maintain their privacy. On the ground level, the front door is tucked into an ivy-covered alcove lined with ipe, a material used throughout the house. Photo by: Juliana Sohn