A Living Fence

The challenge here was to create a privacy fence that did not feel heavy but light in nature. Creating a grid of open lattic that an blooming vine could grow into helps maintain the privacy in the warm months when you need it and not in the colder months. A copper roof was added to the
gate and fence element to preserve the wooden components below for years to come. The gate hinge were design as such to falcilitate easy removal for the winter months to make shoveling easier.

This Emvale Acres project shows how an everyday structure can be designed with the same care as an interior room. Rather than a plain boundary fence, Paul treated the fence as a piece of architecture: an open lattice grid keeps it feeling light and airy, while a blooming vine growing through the grid supplies privacy in the warm months when the family needs it most. In winter, when the leaves are gone, the yard still feels open and bright.

Durability was planned in from the start. A copper roof caps the gate and fence elements, shielding the wooden components below from rain and snow so they last for years to come, and the copper will develop a beautiful patina as it ages. The gate hinges were designed to allow easy removal in the winter months, a small but thoughtful detail that makes shoveling simpler after an Ottawa snowfall.

It is a reminder that the best renovations Ottawa homes receive are not always indoors. If your yard needs privacy, structure, or a smarter way to meet the seasons, explore our home renovation services.