Backyard spaces are meant to be enjoyed—your own slice of Earth where you can relax and connect with nature. Whether nature-inspired or dramatic, it's easy for them to be stunning.
"I really love creating things," explains Erik Koss, architect, contractor, LEED accredited professional, PHIUS certified builder, and founder of Koss design+build (KossDB.com), who created these spaces. "I get such satisfaction from the act of design, where you take an idea, turn it into a design, and then see that come to life. I enjoy working with spaces and how they affect someone's life."
This four-sided, raised, negative-edge pool features star lights at the bottom, and date palms line the sides. The pool—which is surrounded by manmade buildings on all four sides—acts as a water feature when not in use.
With the home set into the mountain, the landscaping was designed to also blend into the natural landscape. The desert flows right up to the house and pool, and the boulders around the pool were taken from around the site and reused to keep the everything natural.