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Case Study
A Garden Privacy Screen That Doubles as an Art Installation
Located in Cleveland Park, this backyard deck renovation focused on transforming an overlooked exterior space into a private, visually compelling retreat. While the home’s front elevation was constrained by historic district guidelines, the rear deck offered a rare opportunity to explore a more contemporary architectural expression.
The solution was a custom-designed, laser-cut aluminum privacy screen finished in a rust tone that evokes weathered steel. More than a barrier, the screen masks an uninspired neighboring view and introduces a bold sculptural presence that redefines how the deck is experienced from inside the home, on the deck itself, and throughout the backyard.
Project Details
Type: Residential garden privacy screen
before the transformation
Before the privacy screen was introduced, the back deck lacked both visual interest and a sense of seclusion. Direct sightlines to the neighboring house dominated the view, limiting the homeowners’ ability to fully relax or use the space as a retreat. While the front of the home benefited from traditional detailing shaped by historic guidelines, the rear deck felt unresolved—functional but visually exposed, with no defining architectural element to anchor the space or shape the experience of being outdoors.
the project plan
The project plan focused on balancing artistic ambition with technical precision. Early conversations clarified the homeowners’ desire for privacy that would feel intentional and expressive rather than utilitarian. From the outset, the screen was conceived as an integrated architectural element rather than an add-on, guiding decisions around scale, placement, and materiality.
Concept development began with hand-drawn studies exploring pattern, proportion, and how the screen would be experienced from multiple viewpoints. These sketches were refined through digital modeling to test sightlines, light filtration, and the relationship between the perforated panels and the existing deck structure. This phase also allowed the team to coordinate closely with fabrication partners to confirm panel sizes, tolerances, and finish requirements before any material was cut.
Once the design was finalized, the plan moved into detailed engineering and pre-installation coordination. Structural requirements, wind loads, and attachment methods were resolved in advance, ensuring the support system could be seamlessly integrated and concealed. By addressing design, fabrication, and installation logistics as a single, cohesive process, the project plan minimized surprises on site and ensured the final installation delivered both the visual impact and long-term performance envisioned from the start.
the transformation
Privacy Through Light, Openness, and Pattern
The screen creates privacy without enclosing the space, blocking direct views of the neighboring property while preserving light, air, and visual openness.
At the same time, it serves as a focal point, with a perforated pattern that filters sunlight and casts shifting light and shadow across the deck, adding movement, texture, and a distinct sense of place.
A Bold, Contemporary Counterpoint to a Historic Setting
The screen’s composition of circles and arcs draws inspiration from Japanese and Chinese garden traditions, particularly the “moon gate” motif. This subtle reference connects the project back to the circular forms used elsewhere on the home, while allowing those ideas to expand in a more abstract and contemporary direction.
Modern Material, Warm Presence
Material choice defined the project’s character. Laser-cut aluminum was selected as a deliberate departure from traditional wood and Victorian detailing, allowing the screen to read as a contemporary architectural element while remaining durable and precise. A custom rust-toned finish evokes the warmth of weathered steel without the maintenance concerns of Corten, softening the metal’s modernity and reinforcing the screen’s role as both a functional privacy element and an artistic focal point.
From Drawing to Exact Execution
Fabricated from laser-cut plate aluminum, the screen was produced to exact tolerances measured in fractions of an inch. Hand-drawn concepts were translated into digital cutting files, ensuring the full-scale panels matched the original design intent precisely. The system consists of layered front and back screens, adding depth and dimensional clarity while allowing the intricate geometry to align seamlessly during installation.
Structural SUPPORT and Installation
Behind the sculptural appearance, the screen required careful structural support. Wind load requirements drove the design of the support system, which includes multiple pressure-treated 2x12 members laminated together and through-bolted into the existing deck structure.
These supports were oriented on their side to resist lateral forces, providing rigidity without excessive bulk. While the aluminum panels themselves are relatively lightweight, the concealed framing ensures long-term stability and prevents warping or movement.
Creative Problem-Solving on-Site
One of the most nuanced challenges was integrating structural support without interrupting the visual rhythm of the perforated panels. Because the screen’s pattern includes large openings, there was a real risk that support posts would be visible through the design.
Through careful coordination between design and installation, the team positioned columns so they remain hidden from view while still providing the necessary strength. The result is a screen that appears effortlessly sculptural, with its technical complexity fully concealed.
The final result: Functional Artwork for Everyday Living
This project demonstrates how a practical requirement, privacy, can become an opportunity for architectural expression. The finished screen is at once a functional solution, a piece of outdoor art, and a defining feature of the backyard. It enhances daily life by creating seclusion, visual interest, and a sense of intentional design, proving that even small exterior interventions can have an outsized impact when thoughtfully executed.
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