That is just asking for someone to trip and impale themselves. Minimal schminimal, that fence needs a connecting bar/handrail over the top or endcaps on all those posts!

Love it! It would reflect my interiors -- clean and minimal! And would work very well for my 2 springer spaniel monsters!

btw - Bacon is absolutely adorable!

I like a minimalist aesthetic but, this just looks like stakes coming out of the ground, I guess because it is.

Yep...my first thought...impale. ouch!

This detail was actually first done by Reed Hilderbrand and Associates at Hither Lane, a landmark modernist residence from the late 90s. The RH detail is much cleaner because the stakes are stainless (galvanized?) and come out of lawn in a sinuous pattern, avoiding the somewhat ungainly detailing at the pavement.

And as far as impaling goes - those stakes are most likely 42" high. What are you going to do, fall off of a ladder? Those pickets would probably do LESS damage than the sharp edges of a chain link fence that you fell on.

That fence is hardly Reed Hildebrand's original idea. Luis Barragan was doing the same detail in the 1950's and '60's, long before they were in business--and it's a detail done currently by any number of high end landscape architects.

But you're right, there is absolutely no way to impale yourself on that, unless you're planning to fall off of a house.

I think we all know it's unlikely someone would actually be impaled by them, but the abrupt and sharp structure/shape make it unappealing to some eyes.

Is the fence in the photo supposed to serve a purpose? I don't see it; it won't keep small animals, leaves, and litter from getting in the pool.

stella:
Most of the time, a fence is required in residential neighborhoods to keep wandering children from falling in and drowning. I'm guessing that's why it's there. I figure people should probably watch their kids a little more closely.

Is there enough room for an adult human to fit through the poles? They look pretty close together. They remind me of the poles urban supermarkets put outside their entrances to keep people from walking away with the carts.

this would be cool is it was retractable

I agree . . retractable would be dope . . . of course, then the impalement would be even more of an issue!

Impale?!! You mean like an ACTUAL pointy white picket fence? This fence is great!

I love the fence in the photo. It's like a kind of dream of a fence. It's like a VIRTUAL fence.

NathanSE, I'd love to see a photo of that. I didn't find anything with a Google, can you point me at anything online?

Google "Hither Lane" and it pops right up. It's featured on Reed Hilderbrand's website.

Snipet is correct, I forgot about Barragan. Hither Lane is one of the first high profile residences I saw it in.

I'm 70 inches tall. If those are 42 inches they come to my waist. Trip on a pool toy or slip in a puddle and I foresee a fencepost through the diaphragm or clavicle.