The owners of a South End Brownstown came to MDLA looking for a creative solution for their underutilized 20x20 rear courtyard space. They wanted a contemporary urban oasis that could be used for entertaining and nightly family dinner. The new space would be an extension of their interior living areas, delivering dramatic views outward, especially at night. Staying within their budget was critical.

Existing wood fencing was reinforced and covered with 2x2 western red cedar slats. Slats were placed with extreme attention to detail to ensure that horizontal and vertical joint alignment (as well as screw heads) were plumb, level, and square. Fence sections were placed in equal panels to avoid staggered jointing. Existing decking was removed and replaced with oversized bluestone paving, leaving an “eroded edge” for a small planting area and an existing Japanese maple tree. The space comes to life at night with led uplighting throughout.