A Rain-Garden Courtyard for a Puget Sound...

Project Overview

A linear rain garden, cedar dining pergola, stone terrace and quiet fire court organize this cool maritime residential landscape concept in Seattle, Washington. The proposal balances everyday outdoor living, climate response, clear circulation and a buildable spatial hierarchy.

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Project scope and evidence

Project stage: Concept design
Design lead: LANDYUO design team

LANDYUO service scope: Remote residential landscape concept design, spatial zoning, circulation, material direction, planting character and AI-assisted visualization.
Client brief: Create a cohesive private garden that supports a linear rain garden, cedar dining pergola, stone terrace and quiet fire court without crowding the site or losing a clear relationship to the home.
Site and project constraints: Cool maritime conditions, privacy, drainage, maintenance, circulation and locally applicable setback or permitting requirements.
Design deliverables: Concept narrative, spatial zoning, material and planting direction, eight coordinated portfolio visualizations and recommendations for site-specific professional development.
Outcome or current progress: A coherent concept framework with clear functional zones, connected circulation and a regionally responsive landscape character.
Local technical review: Local professionals must verify dimensions, drainage, structure, permits, and site-specific requirements before construction.

Design Details

Design philosophy

A single spatial hierarchy organizes a linear rain garden, cedar dining pergola, stone terrace and quiet fire court, keeping the garden legible from the home while allowing each activity to feel distinct.

Clear primary axis
Connected circulation loop
Defined garden rooms
Long-term spatial flexibility

A Rain-Garden Courtyard for a Puget Sound Modern Home – Design philosophy

Outdoor experience

Outdoor living is arranged around a linear rain garden, cedar dining pergola, stone terrace and quiet fire court. Shade, privacy, drainage and seasonal comfort are coordinated as part of one continuous plan.

Everyday dining and gathering
Climate-responsive shade and shelter
Safe service access
Views framed from principal rooms

A Rain-Garden Courtyard for a Puget Sound Modern Home – Outdoor experience

Materials & planting

The palette combines dark basalt, warm cedar and permeable gravel. Planting uses vine maple, sword fern, sedge and evergreen huckleberry to reinforce regional identity and year-round structure.

Regionally appropriate materials
Durable exterior detailing
Climate-suitable planting
Low-maintenance structural layers

A Rain-Garden Courtyard for a Puget Sound Modern Home – Materials & planting

Project parameters

Project type: Garden Design · American Residential Gardens
Location: Seattle, Washington · United States
Area: Approx. 4,850 sq ft (451 m²)
Client: Private Residential Client
Budget: Concept design; construction budget to be confirmed after site verification
Design team: LANDYUO Design