Crest Road | A Mid-Century Hillside Landscape Reimagined

Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Perched high above the Pacific Ocean, Crest Road occupies one of the dramatic coastal ridgelines of Rancho Palos Verdes. The property’s mid-century residence captures sweeping views across the ocean and Palos Verdes Peninsula, yet the surrounding landscape had never fully realized the potential of the site’s steep terrain and expansive outlook.

Our design approach reimagines the relationship between the architecture and the hillside landscape, transforming previously disconnected exterior spaces into a sequence of terraced outdoor environments that extend daily living into the garden.

From Balcony to Landscape

While the home’s architecture offered remarkable views, its original balconies and railings created a separation between the interior spaces and the hillside garden below.

The design replaces these heavier elements with contemporary glass railings, opening the architecture visually to the landscape and allowing uninterrupted views across the Pacific horizon. With the architecture now visually lighter, the landscape becomes the connective tissue between structure and terrain.

From the upper deck, circulation flows down through a series of terraced environments that create layered experiences within the hillside.

From Structure to Sanctuary

At the heart of the design is a sweeping curved retaining wall that organizes the site and guides movement through the garden. This structural gesture anchors the composition while shaping a sequence of outdoor living spaces that unfold naturally along the hillside.

The terraces accommodate multiple layers of use — dining, lounging, fire-side gathering, and quieter garden moments — each positioned to capture framed views of the Pacific Ocean.

Rather than imposing rigid geometry on the hillside, the terraces follow the natural contours of the land, creating a landscape that feels simultaneously structured and organic.

KEy Features

• Terraced outdoor living environments designed to engage the hillside terrain
• Contemporary glass railings that open the architecture to ocean views
• Integrated outdoor dining, fire-side gathering, and spa environments
• Drought-tolerant coastal planting palettes suited to the Palos Verdes climate
• Sculptural retaining walls that organize circulation and garden rooms
• Edible and ornamental planting areas integrated into the hillside garden
• Opportunities for expanded living space beneath the elevated residence

Existing Site Conditions

Before design exploration began, the property presented a series of disconnected exterior areas with limited circulation and underutilized hillside terrain. Elevated decks and balconies overlooked the slope, but meaningful garden spaces had never been established.

The existing site conditions revealed both the challenges and opportunities of the steep coastal property.

The entry and driveway areas lacked a cohesive landscape framework and provided little connection to the surrounding hillside terrain.

Much of the property’s steep grade remained exposed and underutilized, emphasizing the need for terraced structures that could organize circulation and usable outdoor environments.

Existing balconies and railings created visual separation between the home and the garden spaces below.

Circulation across the hillside was fragmented, with no clear sequence of outdoor living environments.

These conditions ultimately informed the terraced design strategy, allowing the landscape to engage the slope while creating a layered series of outdoor rooms oriented toward the Pacific views.

A Coastal Living Landscape

Planting strategies reinforce the natural character of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, utilizing drought-appropriate species arranged in layered swaths and sculptural groupings that respond to the steep terrain.

Privacy screening, edible gardens, ornamental plantings, and hillside groundcovers work together to soften the terraces while creating seasonal variation throughout the landscape.

The result is a garden that feels both intentional and effortless — a coastal landscape that complements the architectural clarity of the mid-century home while embracing the drama of the hillside site.

Crest Road represents an exploration of how mid-century hillside homes can evolve through thoughtful landscape architecture — transforming steep terrain into a sequence of immersive outdoor living environments.

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