LOCATION:
Hollywood Hills, California

Durand Drive | Where Hillside Luxury Meets Natural Harmony

Hollywood Hills, California
Luxury Landscape Architecture | Hillside Habitat Integration | Sustainable Outdoor Living

 

Overview

Durand Drive is a hillside sanctuary shaped by both human aspiration and ecological responsibility. Perched in the Hollywood Hills, the site serves as a natural passageway for deer, coyotes, birds of prey, and smaller mammals traveling through the lower riparian corridors. Our client sought a design that would preserve these vital wildlife pathways while also creating safe, expansive outdoor living for her home and her dogs.

The result is a layered hillside retreat that respects nature’s presence, strengthens habitat, and invites daily connection with both the untamed and the refined.

 

Wildlife Sensitivity & Coexistence Design

A central challenge of this project was balancing the free movement of wildlife with the needs of domestic animals. Discreet fencing and densely planted barriers were woven seamlessly into the topography, allowing dogs to roam safely without disrupting the flow of passing wildlife. These subtle interventions ensure coexistence, protecting the client’s pets while honoring the hillside’s role as a living corridor.

 

Multi-Level Outdoor Living

The home’s multi-level structure allowed us to create new points of egress on the front, side, and rear. From these transitions, decks, terraces, and stairways cascade down the slope, linking interior spaces with outdoor rooms tucked into the landscape.

  • Elevated dining terraces sit beneath preserved shade trees.
  • Lower garden rooms host yoga and meditation zones, paired with wall fountains that provide calming ambient sound.
  • Small water features and planted edges create tranquil gathering spaces while blending naturally into the existing terrain.

 

Preservation & Natural Stewardship

Tree preservation was a key client directive. Each level of the design works around mature trees, integrating them as anchors of shade and habitat. Plantings emphasize biodiversity, seasonal interest, and fire-resilient species, ensuring the landscape is both lush and defensible. Materials—stone walls, wood decking, and natural finishes—were selected to echo the Hollywood Hills environment and age gracefully over time.

 

Illumination & Evening Atmosphere

  • At night, the design transforms. Subtle lighting accentuates stone walls, tree canopies, and stairways, providing safety while creating a warm, theatrical ambiance. The hillside becomes a stage where dining, lounging, and reflection unfold under the canopy of preserved oaks and open sky.

 

Key Features
    • – Habitat-sensitive hillside design balancing wildlife movement and pet safety
    • – Discreet fencing and planted barriers for coexistence of species
    • – Multi-level terraces with new points of access from interior spaces
    • – Outdoor dining decks, lounge terraces, and meditation/yoga areas
    • – Wall fountains and water features for ambient sound and tranquility
    • – Preservation of mature trees integrated into design
    • – Fire-conscious planting and ecological stewardship strategies
    • – Subtle evening lighting for safety and atmosphere

Durand Drive Gallery