INSPIRE
S
teel has become the quintessential element in the outdoor living space. From function to form, steel has the power to take an outdoor space to the next level, adding a touch of modern sophistication and sustainability. Using steel to create unique outdoor features has become a passion of Cheri Stringer’s, principal partner and lead designer at TLC Gardens design build firm in Colorado. TLC Garden’s team has harnessed the strength and adaptability of this timeless material in their outdoor renovations and in the new signature line of TLC Steel products. For almost 20 years, Cheri Stringer and the TLC team have been on a mission to create outdoor environments of lasting meaning, value and joy by connecting their clients to nature. “Steel elevates our clients’ lives,” says Cheri. “It brings enjoyment and a sophisticated elegance to the outdoor living experience.” Designing with steel in the outdoors allows landscape designers to integrate features aesthetically and functionally from design to construction, while also elevating the impact in the end design. Uses for steel in the modern outdoor space include framing,
THE RISE OF
ST E E L TLC GARDENS USES STEEL TO BRING ELEGANCE AND QUALITY TO A SPACE
creating transition, textural contrast, compression, playfulness, artistic functionality, privacy and enhancement of view corridors and flow patterns, to name a few. Steel elements can be simultaneously structural and sculptural. The steel and wood moon gate crafted for TLC’s Söng Ranch project is a stunning example of steel’s multidimensional uses. In this unique outdoor environment, the custom steel and cedar moon gate frames the Tai Chi studio space, emphasizing the
transition between public practice space and the client’s private residence. The steel structure underlying the wood reinforces the moon shape and creates a view corridor of the natural boulder water feature within. At TLC’s Gallagher Farm project, the deep window wells along the edge of the home posed a steep drop-off in the backyard. During the renovation, the window wells were reinforced with custom designed steel walls and outlined with stone, separating them from the outdoor living area. A steel pergola was added, establishing an intimate outdoor dining area and terrace where the client’s grandchildren can run and play safely in the finished space. On this site, the custom steel elements were fabricated with raw steel and treated with muriatic acid for an even patina and a rustic appeal, accentuating the home’s modern farmhouse style. TLC integrated a matching steel utility enclosure, customized to block the trash cans from view while also dampening sound for added privacy. The steel utility enclosure has a sculptural effect while also acting as a solution in the design. When designing and building with steel, consider sheet thickness and tensile strength for structural endurance. For instance, the
STEEL AND WOOD MOON GATE, SÖNG RANCH PROJECT
26 Pro Landscaper USA South May/June 2021
south.prolandscaperusa.com
