Terasseja

The outdoor living space of the Birch Le Collaboration House features a wood-burning fireplace under large, covered porch.

A private terrace is an extension of the interior living spaces. A canopy provides protection while not interrupting the surrounding vistas.

Beyond the terrace, the backs of the Flatiron Peaks reveal themselves. Revegetation of the 35-acre property began immediately following construction of the home—a 2,500-square-foot structure that blends into its woodsy surroundings. Photo by Ron Johnson.

A maple tree grows through an ipe deck in this garden that Mary Barensfeld designed for a family in Berkeley, California. A reflecting pool separates it from a granite patio, which is furnished with a Petal dining table by Richard Schultz and chairs by Mario Bellini. The 1,150-square-foot garden serves as an elegant transition from the couple’s 1964 Japanese-style town house to a small, elevated terrace with views of San Francisco Bay. Filigreed Cor-Ten steel fence screens—perforated with a water-jet cutter to cast dappled shadows on a bench and the ground below—and zigzagging board-formed concrete retaining walls are examples.

The lower terrace, which features a hot tub, is farther down the hill to immerse its users in the landscape.