Bloomingdale Court
Urban Courtyard Garden

Bloomingdale Court, NW
Washington, DC
Small • In the Ground

Originally built as a carriage house, this compact property offered no traditional front yard and a backyard divided between outdoor living space and parking. The challenge was to transform a utilitarian rear lot into a private, functional landscape that could serve as a true extension of the home—while accommodating daily car use. Warm wood decking establishes a softened ground surface, bringing comfort and tactility to an otherwise hard, urban site. A modular pergola offers intimacy and vertical screening, helping to define outdoor rooms while providing separation from the parked car. A charming garden shed, topped with a green roof, provides storage while managing stormwater and screening the yard from the parking. In place of a conventional lawn, a lush, low-maintenance Carex groundcover creates the look and feel of grass without the need to mow. A charming garden shed with a green roof, manages stormwater and screens the refuse bins. The result is an intimate, enclosed garden that balances sustainability, practicality, and delight.

Design Tools: AutoCAD, Adobe Suite

Collaborators: Magdalena Aravena

Installation:  Best Landscape and Construction

Photographer: Magdalena Aravena