36 DIGS.NET
| 4.30.2021
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P R O F I L E | K I E S E L D E S I G N
"Simplicity was
the key to invoke
a peaceful, calm
Zen-like experience
within the house
and landscape"
Zen
Garden
PHOTOGR
APHS
COURTESY
OF
BENJAMIN
L.
ARIFF
s strikingly contemporar y
home immersed in nature and
natural light, with views to the
outdoor landscape amplified
by mahogany-framed doors,
this Venice Beach abode
was built around an existing
pine tree. "The owners wanted a strong
indoor-outdoor experience," explains Jack
Kiesel, who helmed the landscape plan.
"So much so, that you must walk outside
to access certain portions of the home."
Such is the pleasure of compatibility, when
indoor and outdoor spaces meld through
dual walls of sliding glass, and birds fly
through the room.
Forever one with nature, Kiesel took his
cues from the owners' mandate desire to
live en plein air, and from their backgrounds,
in Japan and Australia. From burnt cedar
siding, to courtyards carpeted with pine
needs on soil, the impact of the dwelling
is minimized and sensitive roots of existing
trees are preserved. The design respects
such elements and traditions that are
featured in the architecture and landscape
alike, adds Kiesel. "Simplicity was the key to
invoke a peaceful, calm Zen-like experience
within the house and landscape," he says.
"While many gardens are described as
indoor/outdoor, this one takes the concept
to the next level." One that surpasses every
expectation, yet does so subtly, thoughtfully
and with intention. kieseldesign.com
A
Award-winning landscape
archictect Jack Kiesel
grounds the garden of a
modern Venice Beach
bungalow with a Japanese
sensibility.
