Comfort Lounge: a state of the art back yard for entertaining

Sometimes a design pushes the envelope. Other times, it shreds it completely. This design started with musings on industrial chic and ran amok through galvanized steel, corten, gabions and fire – all serving to create a livable, dynamic set of outdoor living spaces that would be heavily used.

A large grill, two side burners, ample storage and a refrigerator for great parties

An aloe plant forms a silhouette against the linear flames.

The wire of the gabion echoes the galvanized steel of the structure, while the rocks bring an organic aspect to the design.

Although the entire structure is silvery galvanized steel, ambient light causes it to appear warm and coppery above the fire; cool and industrial where it’s lit by the sky.

Reflective galvanized steel takes on warm hues from the fire feature’s flames.

Heat from the corten backing keeps things cozy

Laser cut galvanized panels allow just enough transparency.

The main structure’s posts rise from the gabion wall, their irregular spacing contributing to the industrial chic feel of the space.

This view from the kitchen window strings the main activity spaces along a curved concrete path leading to the sculpture and dining patio (not visible).

There’s lots of open space for circulation between the house, cooking area and dining patio.

The spa has its own deck for easy access and a space to place towels. Service is simple since the spa is open on two sides behind the deck

Hot Lips sage grows against a gabion wall screening the spa area.

This intimate patio tucks behind the garage, away from the kitchen and fireplace. It’s a quieter space where soothing noises from a fountain back views to the sculpture.

This sculpture is the focal point from the kitchen. It’s also an area for the dogs to run around.

Heat from the linear burner reflects off the corten back, warming people enjoying the lounge area

The interesting thing about a galvanized shade structure is that it takes on the colors of its environment. Where lit by flames, it pulses with a warm, coppery glow punctuated by deep blue circles where the sky shows through the cutouts. The structure was galvanized off site, brought back and assembled into a companion dramatic partner to the matte rusty corten fire feature.

The fire feature appears simple, but in fact had to be carefully designed so that the flames burn cleanly without black soot. This means ample inlets for aeration under the burner and a cavity where air moves freely to supply oxygen to the flames.

Instead of hard-edged walls, the spaces use gabions for separation. The organic cobbles bring an organic yet still industrial feel, and the gabions’ wires shimmer. One gabion wall partially hides cars parked in front of the garage; the other separates a portable spa from the garden’s other areas.

The sculpture is a “Leap” from a Terra Sculpture catalog. It’s clad in red powder coated steel so maintenance should not be an issue. The goal was something dramatic and bold to terminate the sight line from the kitchen, lounge, spa and cooking areas. It’s also part of a transition point to a dining patio. The space around the sculpture is simple crushed rock to allow people to mingle and the owner’s dogs to run unimpeded by vegetation.

For those arriving directly from the front yard, there’s a galvanized steel gate that filters views to the space while allowing cars to move in and park.

There are a lot of open spaces, sans chairs, tables, benches and other encumbrances. This is for entertaining. Open spaces let people circulate, stand, mingle and easily move from one outdoor room to another. The lounge’s seating well off-center so people can easily pass by. The dining patio’s tables anchor one end of the design, opposite the home’s exit doors.

You can see how the light dances off the surfaces in this video.