We've always admired these two fences near our apartment. They're both creative designs that give a little privacy to small brownstone backyards. The first one (photos 1, 2) uses layers of wood to create an interesting screen.
The second one (photos 3, 4) uses wood installed at an angle to protect views from the predominant direction of traffic. Both designs appear to be made of cedar. Left natural, the material weathers to gray over time. The mix of natural material with modern lines helps these new constructions fit well into the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of historic homes with subtle, high-quality modern tweaks added over the decades.
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I love both of these fences especially the first. I have cedar fencing on both sides of my yard both with ivy growing up them. It's so nice when function and nature integrate. I also noticed another post on an architectural site showing a redwood fence as well as growing ivy to cover old chain link fences: http://mowerymarsh.blogspot.com/2010/02/outdoor-livinghoboken-style.html.
What beautiful fences.
Thanks for adding that link curlygirlhoboken it's given me loads of ideas.
I actually live a block away from there. I walk by the second one every day and I hate it because if you are walking west, you can see right into it. I always wonder why they designed it that way--if you were having a barbecue back there would you want to see right onto the sidewalk?
It's great that they are weathered, and makes them so much more natural. I bet these fences look really good in the summer when there are plants growing on them.