CASE STUDY No. 2:

Food Garden on a Hillside

Problem:

A couple wanted to grow their own food, but the topology of their property made this difficult. The clients were located on the side of a hill in the San Gabriel Mountains. The only flat space was the clearing for the house and a small patio for dining. Any food would have to be grown on the steep hill between the clients’ house and the neighboring property down below. Safe access to the food garden was essential, as one of the clients had a mobility issue.

Solution:

I settled on designing a staircase with a platform for the garden, both made of grated metal. In addition to being fireproof, grated metal does not impede drainage, it’s lightweight, and structures made with this material can be pre-fabricated, which makes for quick installation on-site. The platform at the bottom of the stairs was large enough to accommodate 30 square feet of growing space in raised beds, with room remaining for a bench. The whole structure floated just above the hillside, which minimized the amount of digging required, and water was provided by running a hose alongside the stairs, terminating at a faucet down on the platform.

A section drawing of the staircase and platform along with raised beds

A plan view of the staircase and platform with an aerial photo of the site in the background.