The Showcase House is an annual, nonprofit event that gives designers an opportunity to demonstrate their skills by renovating an interior or exterior space in a local residence.

studio pappaterra’s garden features views of the Colorado Street Bridge and the Arroyo Seco – hence the space’s name, the Arroyo Vista Garden. Inspired in the botanical richness and heritage of Pasadena and the Porter Daniel’s Manor.

A key objective of this garden is to demonstrate the increasingly necessary principles of defensible space. studio pappaterra is an advocate and thought leader in this arena, regularly designing defensible landscapes for clients living in the wild-urban interface. In the Arroyo Vista Garden, fire defense starts with Zone 0 - ERZ: the Ember-Resistant Zone, which requieres non-flammable materials within the first five feet around the home. Any plants in this area are potted and ready to move in the event of a wildfire.

Moving outward onto defensible space Zone 01 - The Home Protection Zone, a green belt of plants is irrigated to reduce flammability. Potted oak trees bring the opportunity to teach their value as a key component in the line of defense. Our native oaks are able to suffocate embers and stop the spread of fire before they reach the home. Finally, Zone 2 - The Reduced Fuel / Thinning Zone, trees downhill from the garden were skirted by a professional arborist to reduce the likelihood of flames jumping from the ground to the canopies and onto the garden.

While the design for the showcase is densely strategized, the result is an airy, colorful garden buzzing with life. Comfortable seating by Janus et Cie provides opportunities for reflection and conversation, and the custom-built water feature offers a soothing background soundtrack and much needed, easily accessible water for wildlife.

Click here for our full plant list.

We were featured on LA Times Today: Behind the scenes at the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, on Spectrum News One, Pasadena Weekly, Good Day LA, Susanne Whatley’s LAist, LAist on NPR local news, and Architectural Digest AD.