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Outdoor Hardscapes Pavers Patio, Porch, Deck Horizontal Fences, Walls Stone Fences, Walls Design Photos and Ideas

The back garden is a perfect metaphor for what the couple hoped to achieve with their project. "We feel a part of the city, but there’s still this sense of privacy," says Ali.

"You can see [with] this building how the design is in the small details and at the urban scale," says Cynthia.

The interior courtyard is one of the best rooms in the house, embracing daylight and shadows. Originally designed to hold a tree at the center, the courtyard now includes a fire pit.

Archier maintained the old brick from the existing part of the house to clearly illustrate the relationship of old with new.

"The creation of a 'functionally active' series of retaining walls with our colleagues at Surfacedesign activates the space for use with an outdoor fireplace, bar-b-que, and climbing wall," notes Maniscalco.