Miniature garden railroad bridge winding through native grasses and Cercis occidentalis in a Los Feliz hillside garden designed by CRAFT Landscape Architecture
Aerial view of a lily pad pond, native sedge plantings, and garden railroad beside a Raphael Soriano midcentury modern home in Los Feliz
View through steel-frame floor-to-ceiling glass doors from a Raphael Soriano residence overlooking a terraced native plant garden in Los Feliz
Curving split-face cmu staircase descending through oak canopy and native plantings on a hillside at a Raphael Soriano residence in Los Feliz
Close-up of yarrow and native wildflowers blooming among boulders beside a small waterfall feature in a Los Feliz ecological garden
Concrete paver terrace with California Gold joints in dappled shade, hardscape detail at a Raphael Soriano house in Los Feliz designed by CRAFT Landscape Architecture

Residential Garden

commonwealth

Los Angeles, CA

Nestled within the scenic hills of Los Feliz, this project pays homage to the architectural legacy of Raphael Soriano. Designed with meticulous attention to historical significance, the hillside residence features strategic landscaping and stabilization efforts that honor Soriano's iconic vision while responding to the demands of a steep urban site.

The design embraces Soriano's aesthetic with copious red-flowering shrubs — a hallmark of his work — enhancing the natural beauty of the surroundings. Carefully placed debris walls protect the home and stabilize the hillside, ensuring both functionality and long-term preservation of the property.

Native plants were thoughtfully selected to establish a connection with nearby Griffith Park, enriching the garden with local biodiversity and fostering a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape. This four-year endeavor — encompassing design, analysis, and implementation — is a timeless tribute to Soriano's enduring architectural legacy.

Credits

Landscape Architecture

CRAFT LA

Photography

Rio Asch Phoenix

Builder

Terra Form Inc.

Owners

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Process + Documentation

Hand-drawn concept plan showing oak grove, swale, and native planting zones for a Los Feliz hillside garden by CRAFT Landscape Architecture
Illustrated site plan with rain gardens, ironwood groves, and meadow grass at a Raphael Soriano residence in Los Feliz by CRAFT Landscape Architecture
Concrete paver terrace, corten steel bench, and garden railroad at a Raphael Soriano residence in Los Feliz by CRAFT Landscape Architecture
Dry-stacked stone retaining wall with blooming native sage at the Commonwealth Canyon Garden in Los Feliz