Kensington, California: Jigsaw Puzzle Entry Garden

Modern art and landscape design collide in a playful 25-by-30-foot entry garden that reinvents paving. Landscape architects Mathew Henning, Heather Anderson, and Emily Payne developed a jigsaw puzzle of irregularly shaped brick pads to greet visitors and lead them on an exciting journey to the front door. A patchwork of foliage textures grows around the bricks. "Very innovative — geometric shapes create dynamic tension with harmony and balance," observed a juror.

Previously, a fence funneled visitors directly to the door along a stark concrete walk. Now, stepping through the front gate, guests are welcomed by lush plantings and a striking angled brick pathway that encourages garden experience before arrival. "It's a three-dimensional entry that says 'Welcome; have fun; come in when you're ready.'" Henning explains.

DESIGNERS: Mathew Henning, Heather Anderson, and Emily Payne, Henning/Anderson, Oakland, CA (510/531-3095)