For such a small footprint, the courtyard fills large shoes. More than a garden, it's an entrance, dining room, property line and physical projection of the client's modern aesthetic.

"The client sought a garden that was durable and easy to maintain," says Cunningham. The courtyard was designed as an outdoor extension of the home as well as a welcoming invitation.

He immediately resolved privacy issues by enclosing the previously underutilized courtyard. Eight-foot fencing separates the intimate courtyard from the communal alley.

The garden draws the interior experience of the home outdoors — creating a sense of seclusion in the middle of urban Boston.

“It’s a pretty quiet space,” says Cunningham. “You don't really notice the hustle and bustle of the city because it is on the alley side of the property. You see the sky and some surrounding buildings.”

Resilient Hardscape

Much of historic Boston is made of brick. Cunningham used reclaimed granite paving as an intentional diversion from this tradition while staying true to regional aesthetics and clean design.

Dry-laid cobbles — many already on site — were carefully tucked with salvaged native moss, maintaining permeability and allowing water percolation.

All woodwork and fencing is whitewashed fir contrasted with corrugated galvanized steel.

While the site is somewhat protected, the climate of the American Northeast is fierce, and all materials need to withstand its inflictions — humidity, snow, rain — while weathering gracefully and naturally.

The hardscape palette suits the modern, industrial aesthetic of the space while still alluding to traditional New England gardens.

Shade-tolerant Planting

“Understanding the growing conditions is critical,” says Cunningham. This site receives barely three hours of direct sunlight a day, so selecting plants that would survive in shade and retain moisture was critical.

Like the minimalist material palette, the primary planting palette is limited to two shade-loving perennials. Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola') and Heuchera (Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple') are mixed within the terraced raised beds. "They thrive in the space and have excellent multi-seasonality. We use annuals in the containers in the garden — and use palms in the containers that flank the entrance of the house.”

Space-saving Details

Every square foot of outdoor space is accounted for.

Cunningham avoided wasted space by selecting a sliding barn-style gate rather than a traditional swinging door. Seamless, built-in cabinets keep AC units, trash and recycling out of view — eliminating visual clutter.

He embraced the firewood storage as a design feature by leaving the stack exposed. A salvaged granite pier forms the dining table's pedestal.

Cunningham even employed optical devices to add space.

The horizontal slats of the fencing were intentionally used to elongate the space, guiding the visitor in from the alley to the garden and home.

Landscape plan of South End Courtyard.