Sometimes a “fence” doesn’t have to be a fence. Washington DC’s residential neighborhoods are dominated by rowhouses with front courtyards surrounded by fencing or a stone wall. This project approached the problem from a different angle. The client wanted to differentiate the space from the sidewalk, create a measure of privacy, provide planting space, and still allow interaction with neighbors. A set of square planters were designed to define the space yet allow easy reconfiguration if required.