San Mateo Youth Services Center
A H I L L S I D E U N F O L D E D
The SAN MATEO YOUTH SERVICES CENTER contemplative garden is designed to provide a dynamic view from
the interior architectural spaces as well as a comfortable and beautiful area for client use.
The initial view of the courtyard is from the entry lobby where it pulls the eye beyond a wall of glass to a
hillside of green framed on one side by a staircase ascending to the second floor and on the other, an
array of large boulders. The terraced lawns are traversed by a meandering drainage channel, an abstract representation of the earth-form creases that naturally form on hillsides, creating their shape and character
with a play of light and shadow and bursts of plant growth along the impression.
Those using the space will enjoy sitting on the lawn or the steps and may choose full sun or shady
refuge near the planted areas. As the sun moves overhead, the shadows cast by the channel and the
plantings subtly alter the mood of this visually interesting environment.
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San Bruno Mountain
Drainage and Erosion
Concept
Capture nature and abstract it
Sketch
Inspired by nature’s processes using earth form to create usable spaces
C O N C E P T
1. Use land form as an abstract representation of nature.
2. Use land form with bold dynamic lines and textures.
F U N C T I O N
1. Functional but also open to interpretation and augmentation
a.) Water Feature
b.) Sculpture at upper terrace
c.) Sitting areas on lawn terraces
d.) Lawn functions for passive recreation
e.) Bioswale cleans rooftop water
f.) Patches of textures can be added
g.) Erosion of edges with planting to create textures and define use areas
h.) Depressed area could be used for introduction of native grasses and wildflowers
i.) Provides necessary and purposeful drainage of the entire space
A N A L O G Y
1. Medieval space
2. Piazza: Spanish Steps in Roma
3. Piazza del Campo in SIena Italy
a.) Shell shaped concave form becomes a convex land form
b.) Siena brown brick gives way pastoral green color
c.) The “pond” is the shell
4. The Alhambra in Spain
a.) Courtyard environment provides a respite from harsh outer world
S C U L P T U R E
1. Giant boulders to frame view and terminate the depressed meandering channel.
2. Land form as functional and art.
a.) Drainage
b.) Recreational
c.) Restful
3. Pond Formation
a.) Black reflective hole
b.) Marsh-wetland, cattails
4. Boulder Water Feature
a.) Waterfall
b.) Bubbles out of hole in rock
