Dream Weaver

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: March, 2009, Page 164

To solve drainage issues without damaging an olive tree, Margaret Joplin designed a circular bench. Made of colored concrete, it has three openings that allow access to the inner planter. Nearby, slate laid in a random pattern echoes hues of the Sonoran Desert.

For a Contemporary look, an existing block wall was capped with lengths of angled iron that remind Joplin of vertical louvers. To the left, live ocotillo branches form a privacy wall.

Joplin was challenged with transforming a small Tucson yard at a 1950s home into an inviting family-friendly setting with Contemporary elements. “The client is from Austria, where stainless steel swimming pools are common due to the climate and health standards,” says Joplin. “He wanted to develop a unique oasis where less is more.” The aboveground stainless steel spa she designed features a cover that slides under the lounging pads.

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