Site analysis
SC
SC SC Legend
SC Selective Clearing
Focal Point: Sally Screening
Potential Land Acquistion
Visitors Entrance
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N
50
100
200
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goals • • • • • • • • • • •
Selective clearing for views. Master Bedroom Privacy Screening from Red Belt Koi Pond Removal (more practical living space) Connection from Courtyard to Patio Dog and kid friendly landscape Bird Garden (Kitchen View) More inviting circulation to the front of the house. Rustic/Country style Driveway Entrance curb appeal Firepit with seating for the back patio.
overall theme Cohesive design dedicated to practical daily use as well as showcasing aesthetic appeal. It contains a mixture of rustic landscape which reflects the natural surroundings and a country landscape which supplies the household with functional plantings. The space is geared to focus on natural materials for architectural elements and plants that compliment existing landscape. The ongoing continuous theme is the small stone wall. From the drive to direct pedestrian traffic to entertaining spaces, the stone wall is repetitive. In addition, it can be carried into the lower South Lawn with stairs or terraced seating areas.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
Areas of Interest A: Driveway B: Entrance Drive B: Front Foundation C: Side Foundation: East D: Lawn E: Patio F:Courtyard G: Side Foundation: West H: South Lawn
Areas of interest
F E G B
C
A
D
H W. Grove Drive
driveway Stone walls would line the drive when approaching the house. This will add directional nonverbal communication how the visitor should enter the house. Along the right side of the drive, a wall will completely block the line of sight to a door in the back whereas the wall on the left hand side will flank the walk to the front door. It is suggested the plantings by the left drive be removed as well as widen the front walk to emphasize primary circulation. Here is an example of a wall where the visitor can see the path to the house however it can not be reach due to the stone barrier.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
The asphalt drive can be lined with stone pavers (compliment the stone style of the walls). If desired to keep the circular drive look, the circular piece can also to be lined or even filled in with a stone design. This gives the sense of a circular drive with the ability to drive and plow without hesitation.
Front foundation Even though the first part of the house the visitor encounters is the garage and the eastern side of the house, the front foundation area should leave an everlasting first impression. The essence of a country landscape should be capture in the front foundation planting beds. Small flowering trees with filtered shade anchor the corners of the house, producing dappled light through the front windows. A combination of deciduous and broadleaf evergreen shrubs add seasonal interest all year round. Theses shrubs would be specified as small cultivars to keep the landscape looking natural. In addition minimum perennials would be featured to help keep the maintenance low yet add some extra splash of color for the summer months. Planting beds would be lined with mulch but plants would be designed in order to keep the manicured bed style limited.
Afterthought
One possibility to define the entry path would be an architectural feature leading to the destination. Both examples shown do not match the preferred style of the landscape but they are great examples how an element can lead the visitors eyes to the targeted area.
Mulch has limited visibility due to the design of the bed.
W. Grove Drive
Side Foundation: East The eastern side foundation area is proposed as the functional part of the landscape. This area is designed to be the most interactive space between the family and the landscape. The foundation plantings would be a huge cut flower garden. Peonies, hydrangeas, yarrow, phlox, foxglove, hollyhocks and the list can go on. Minimal winter interest will be featured however hydrangeas would line the house to give some structure and minimize the square footage for the rest of the cut flowers and essentially lower the maintenance. Beds can be scaled back than shown if maintenance is a larger concern. To reduce visitor confusion, a small stone wall would be featured along the right side of the drive. This should signature to the visitor to look for alternate routes to enter the house. A 3’ foot opening would be made to access the garage/drive from the laundry room, this access would be via a flagstone walk. The existing sidewalk would be removed and a flagstone walk would replace it. This gives a nonverbal signal as a secondary path and not a primary walk. In addition, a gate mimicking the porch railing would be proposed. To the visitor, it will look as if the porch does not have an access point. Railing would be removed to add an additional exit off of the kitchen doors. A veggie garden would be proposed right before the foundation plantings off these kitchen doors.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
Establishing that rustic landscape by including a combination of textures and natural plants. Hydrangea arborescens bloom all summer long with large creamy flowers so heavy they drape over arching branches. Cascading ornamental grass surround the foreground and creates a smooth transition into the existing lawn. This display would be located along the drive, softening the hardscape.
Plant structure around the house is limited and primary herbaceous.
Here are a few examples of the proposed cut flowers.
W. Grove Drive
Lawn As decided in the initial goals and expectations document as well as the site consultation, this space will stay as in, lawn. Existing beds along the drive would be removed for easier maintenance. Shade trees could be added (along the lawn edges) to create some protection from the sun if desired.
Here are some non-traditional play areas for kids that can be featured in the lawn space.
Repetitive use of stone will help define spaces within the landscape. This image is a great transition piece from the residence space to the guest house space.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
Garden A small fence would enclose four 4’x10’ raised beds. Raised beds are easy to maintain and contain. Two foot gravel paths line the beds for easy access. The main path would be 5’ wide for wheel barrow or tractor accessibility. Essentially this garden would have about 160 square feet of harvesting area however it can always be scaled down due to the about of active gardening the family is planning. A typical residential garden is about 100 square feet and the footprint of this one can be scaled accordingly. The garden could be lined with boxwoods or a small blueberry cultivar.. These blueberries would be an edible low bush variety. The family can using a protective netting until the berries become ripe or leave them for the birds
Raised beds are typically no more than 4’ wide with paths on all sides. The garden can access from any angle with easy reach.
This is a garden right off the foundation of a house and lined with boxwoods. W. Grove Drive
Patio The patio area should be an extension of the home’s living space. Due to the number of doors exiting the house in this area, the patio must be slightly larger to accommodate the potential circulation. This space is designed for small get-togethers or just for the family. A seat wall accompanies a rectangular firepit. In addition to the firepit and seat wall, a dining table, outdoor couch, grill and container plantings are all design within this space.
More stone walls to follow a theme. These are very low just to add dimension to the space. This image also demonstrates the use of two different paving/stone patterns
Afterthought
Water feature with the stone wall.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
Courtyard The existing courtyard space is perfect for privacy. The 40+ inch brick walls create an intimate setting off the master suite. The vision for this space to add a water feature, small bistro, and summer blooms designed with only room for two.
The existing brick wall can be a drop box for a cascading water feature that can gentle over all a shorter brick water. Roof water can be filtered into the design.
Here is another variation to the water wall.
This is a more formal look to a courtyard but you can feel how the brick walls enclose the space and make it an intimate setting.
W. Grove Drive
Side Foundation: west This western side of the house is a perfect spot for an enchanting shade garden. This planting bed will be filled with leafy textures from ferns to Ligularia to Lenten Roses and a new architectural feature. The repetitive theme of stone walls will transition here to a new one; the concrete sphere. These oversized garden decor can help bring some height and variation to the green shady foliage.
Concrete spheres blended into the landscape.
Conceptual Design Summer 2013
South lAWN Here is a series of inspirational images for the South Lawn space. Once measurements are taken, this area can be narrowed down by its small tucked away spaces.
If Sally the tree is the place to be, why not add a seating area?
Sandstone stairs accessing the lower tier of the south lawn.
Another potential focal point.
In case a small patio space is more desirable than the one proposed, the fire pit can be moved to the south lawn. Seat wall can be sunk into the hillside.
Examples of architectural elements that can be added to focal areas.
W. Grove Drive