The Pearl of the Sea — A Nautical Garden in San Diego

“A coastal-inspired garden that captures the beauty of underwater life through coral-like planting, sculptural concrete, and sustainable San Diego elegance.”

The Pearl of the Sea - video presentation of Mid-Century Modern Landscape Architectural Design

Concept & Vision

The clients dreamed of a garden that would let them feel the ocean every day — its colors, textures, and rhythms — right outside their front door. Inspired by their love for the sea, LASD Studio designed The Pearl of the Sea, a coastal-themed landscape that mimics the beauty and harmony of underwater life. This garden blends artistic composition, ecological sensitivity, and innovative hardscape detailing to create one of the most distinctive front-yard landscapes in San Diego. As a freediver deeply in love with the ocean, LASD Studio’s principal Yura Lotonenko immediately envisioned how this garden could embody the serene, living world beneath the waves — transforming that vision into an expressive and sustainable landscape experience.

Breeze Wall and Coral-Inspired Planting — The Pearl of the Sea

Coastal garden with circular white breeze block wall, driftwood accents, and coral-like succulents growing in black lava rock and sand — a sustainable San Diego landscape evoking the rhythm of the ocean.

Front Yard Transformation with Nautical Details — The Pearl of the Sea

Ocean-themed front yard with turquoise house, rope railings, palm trees, and volcanic rock garden; a modern coastal design blending architecture and sea-inspired landscape artistry.

Sea-Glass Concrete Art — The Pearl of the Sea

Close-up of decorative concrete with embedded sea glass, shells, and a starfish — symbolizing the ocean floor in a custom San Diego landscape by LASD Studio.

Underwater Texture Detail — Sea Glass and Shell Mosaic

Handcrafted concrete mosaic featuring turquoise glass pieces, shells, and stones that shimmer like coral reefs — a sustainable artistic surface for a coastal garden.

Coral Reef Garden Composition — Succulents and Lava Rock

Succulent planting arranged among lava rocks and sand to mimic a coral reef; sustainable low-water design blending sculpture, texture, and ecology.

Coastal Pathway with Rope Railings — The Pearl of the Sea

Concrete garden path bordered by tropical palms and nautical rope railing, leading toward the house — a serene coastal walkway inspired by San Diego’s oceanfront lifestyle.

Sculptural Breeze Wall and Palm Silhouette — The Pearl of the Sea

Modern circular cement breeze block wall with palm trees behind, creating dynamic light and shadow; part of LASD Studio’s signature ocean-inspired front yard in San Diego.

Modern Circular Breeze Wall — Ocean-Inspired Architecture Detail

Close-up of white circular breeze blocks forming a sculptural wall that filters light like waves underwater — a signature design element of The Pearl of the Sea by LASD Studio in San Diego.

Ocean-Themed Front Yard with Coral and Lava Rock Layers

A sculptural coastal garden featuring turquoise walls, black lava rock, and coral-like succulents arranged in soft sand — a San Diego landscape inspired by the underwater world.

Nautical Front Yard with Lava Rock and Coral-Inspired Planting

View of the ocean-themed front yard featuring lava rock beds, succulents arranged like underwater coral, and natural sand textures — a living artwork blending landscape design and marine inspiration.

Nautical Wall Lantern and Glass Block Detail — The Pearl of the Sea

Close-up of a coastal-style wall sconce shaped like a lantern with glass block windows, complementing the turquoise façade — refined architectural detail in a marine-inspired garden.

Curved Breeze Wall and Turquoise Façade — Coastal Architecture Harmony

Elegant white circular breeze wall curving toward the turquoise house, framed by palm trees and open sky — merging architecture and landscape in coastal San Diego style.

Tropical Entrance Garden with Palms and Lava Rock Border

Front entrance framed by lush palms, lava rock edging, and coral-inspired planting; a tropical, low-water design reflecting the vibrant coastal energy of San Diego.

~ Where breath of the Ocean meets free Spirit ~

Design Narrative

This garden is conceived as a living coral reef emerging from land — a poetic transition from ocean depth to coastal terrain. Each element, from planting to material texture, was carefully chosen to echo the forms and rhythms of marine ecosystems, creating a place that is both sculptural and sustainable.

• Concept: Coral reef landscape — a terrestrial expression of the ocean’s life forms

• Theme: Regenerative coastal minimalism with sculptural hardscape detailing

• Location: San Diego, California
  
  

  
  ~ It’s all begun with a dream ~

Conceptual Sketch — Coral Planting: The Dream Behind The Pearl of the Sea

Hardscape & Materials - State of Art

The hardscape serves as the structural backbone of the garden, reflecting both craftsmanship and imagination:

• Concrete deck & paths — smooth, coastal-inspired surfaces with aggregated glass inlays, creating a shimmering “sea glass” effect reminiscent of the ocean floor.

• Nautical rope railings — handcrafted wooden posts with heavy natural rope add marine authenticity and safety without blocking the view.

• Custom breeze block wall (“Breath Wall”) — a white sculptural feature of circular cement blocks arranged to evoke bubbles rising through water, casting dynamic shadows through the day.

• Lava rock formations — used as “reef ridges” and “underwater caves,” introducing natural texture, habitat spaces, and strong visual contrast.

• Decorative shells, driftwood, and coral fragments — artfully embedded within sand and gravel to complete the illusion of an exposed coral reef at low tide.

Planting Design

The planting palette was composed to mimic aquatic organisms through color, texture, and form — a living sculpture inspired by coral ecosystems by John Beaudry.

• Succulents & agaves simulate coral colonies and anemones, thriving in the dry coastal microclimate.

• Sedums, echeverias, and mangaves provide fine textures and pastel tones, creating a vibrant undersea color gradient.

• Tropical palms and cycads anchor the composition, representing the “surface canopy” and adding vertical drama.

• CA native and low-water species ensure sustainability and resilience while maintaining the coastal theme.
  
  
  

Lighting & Night Ambience

Beyond its visual poetry, The Pearl of the Sea is a sustainable and regenerative landscape:

• Drought-tolerant planting reduces irrigation demand.

• Permeable surfaces allow stormwater infiltration.

• Recycled glass and natural materials minimize environmental footprint.

Concept Plan — The Pearl of the Sea Coastal Garden

Concept plan illustrating the spatial organization of The Pearl of the Sea, a San Diego coastal garden inspired by underwater life. The drawing defines main features — coral reef planting zones, deck areas, rope railing, and nautical details — merging art and sustainable design.

Hardscape Plan — Construction Detailing for Coastal Garden

Detailed hardscape plan showing materials and dimensions for paths, steps, retaining walls, and the iconic breeze block wall. The layout highlights how craftsmanship and engineering meet in this artful coastal landscape design.

Breeze Block Wall Design — Abstract Marine Architecture Element

Technical drawing of custom circular breeze block wall used as a sculptural façade in The Pearl of the Sea. Each block pattern evokes bubbles and wave motion, combining modern craftsmanship with a playful coastal aesthetic.

Detailed Design — Breeze Wall Options and Patterns

Design sheet comparing various breeze block configurations — Globe, Circlet, and Crater White — to define rhythm, texture, and shadow play in the wall’s final appearance. A study in architectural art within landscape context.

Lighting Plan — Nighttime Landscape Illumination Design

Lighting plan with LED nautical fixtures, uplights, and embedded lines emphasizing pathways, walls, and plant contours. The layout creates an immersive ocean-inspired nighttime experience while maintaining energy efficiency.

Irrigation Plan — Sustainable Water Management System

Technical irrigation layout showing Hunter controller, valves, and hydro-zones for efficient water use. Designed for drought-tolerant planting and long-term sustainability in coastal San Diego climates.

Planting Plan — Coral Reef-Inspired Vegetation Layout

Comprehensive planting plan depicting species selection and arrangement that mimic coral reef forms and underwater diversity. Includes tropical palms, succulents, and native plants for an ecologically resilient design.

Detailed Planting Composition — Succulent and Coral-Like Textures

Close-up planting zone drawing showing the interplay of textures, heights, and colors in the reef section. Each species selected to evoke marine life while ensuring drought resilience and visual harmony.

The Pearl of the Sea stands as a unique fusion of landscape architecture, art, and ecology — a front yard transformed into a coastal sculpture garden, celebrating San Diego’s maritime spirit. It reflects LASD Studio’s philosophy of designing landscapes as evolving, living systems that tell stories, heal land, and connect people with nature’s deeper rhythms.

This garden is more than a landscape—it is a therapeutic retreat designed to restore balance, spark joy, and create lasting memories. Every element is thoughtfully composed to provide a sense of refuge, rejuvenation, and inspiration.

Landscape Design Project Process & Realization

Creating The Pearl of the Sea was an immersive, six-month journey from concept to completion.
The project began with over three months of dedicated design work — from on-site measurements and client meetings to concept sketches, planting studies, and full technical documentation. Every detail was refined with precision and artistry to ensure that the final result would feel alive — like a coral reef breathing on land.

Construction spanned another three months, involving a team of exceptional craftsmen, artisans, and landscape specialists — people who share LASD Studio’s passion for design, precision, and care for both the vision and the client experience. Every material, texture, and planting placement was handled with deep attention to the project’s soul.

Value & Impact

The Pearl of the Sea transformed the property at 2372 Plum Street, San Diego, into a work of living art — a landscape that redefines curb appeal and architectural identity. Designed and built with a total construction value of approximately $200,000, the project seamlessly merges craftsmanship, ecology, and mid-century modern artistry. Beyond its beauty, the design significantly enhances the property’s market and cultural value, positioning it as one of the most distinctive front yards in the area. It stands as proof that visionary landscape architecture not only enriches daily life, but also becomes a long-term investment in both art and property.