Set behind a historic home in Richmond’s Fan District, this intimate garden reflects the creative life of its owner. Within approximately 500 square feet, Waterstreet conceived the landscape as an outdoor room for gathering and entertaining, where every material, detail, and element serves a purpose.

The garden establishes a deliberately contemporary counterpoint to the historic house. Corten steel, concrete, wood, and Mexican beach pebble create a rich but elegant material palette, with changes in texture and finish giving depth to the compact space. Steps become informal seating and places for plants, allowing individual elements to take on multiple roles as the garden shifts between everyday use and larger gatherings.

The small scale also created an opportunity to explore craft at an unusually fine level. Waterstreet worked closely with skilled fabricators and contractors, including blacksmith Edward Pelton, to develop custom elements whose detailing is integral to the experience of the garden.

Modern without feeling disconnected from its historic setting, the garden is both highly composed and adaptable—a small landscape shaped by craft, creativity, and the rituals of entertaining.

LOCATION:
Richmond, VA

CLIENT:
Private Owner