MALIBU OVERLOOK
Eric Staudenmeier
L A N D S C A P E — R E S I D E N T I A L
DESIGNER
Stephen Billings Landscape Architecture LOCATION
Malibu, California
When a family moved to Malibu, California, they had difficulty finding a property that matched their eco-conscious lifestyle. They partnered with Stephen Billings Landscape Architecture to create a visually compelling terrain that minimizes resource use and aims to redefine luxury in an era of diminishing hydrological resources. The team took cues from the rugged beauty of the surrounding chaparral, where the native eco-
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system thrives without resource inputs. The landscape design was conceived of as an extension of this native ecology and is defined by its embeddedness in the greater natural setting. In addition to using a native plant palette, permeable hardscape materials mitigate the impact of stormwater on the site’s steep slopes.