Because the Japanese maple in the courtyard of this sunny California home had to be planted before the ipe deck was laid, architect Roger Kurath designed a small removable panel to allow access to the tree’s base. The residents can pull up the bit of decking to tend to the tree and replace it when they’re through. And because the boards line up perfectly, only the gardener need know it’s there.
Photo by Jessica Haye and Clark Hsiao.