RHYTHM OF THE CAPE

WITH JUSTIN HAILEY

ORLEANS MA

MASTER PLAN PROJECT BRIEF:

The Floren Residence is a large private estate located on Cape Cod. It is made up of 5 separate parcels of land that were combined into one.

We aligned the fire pit, main living room, and swimming pool with the most critical view axis to the shoreline. This vista is brought back through the landscape and emphasized due to prominence in relation to the landscape’s organization.

The guest house was placed on the other end of the property to take advantage of another beautiful view of the shoreline and provide a sense of privacy for guests and the clients.

The rest of the landscape is engulfed in a billowing meadow that creates a sea of its own surrounding the estate.

CONCEPT:

The natural landscape of Cape Cod emanates its own rhythm in multiple dimensions. We used this rhythm as a theme within our own landscape, as well as the layout of the architecture, to establish the estate as part of the Cape, not just an addition to it.

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The entry sequence is defined by classic Cape Cod rose bushes, a 2 way garage, and a trellis intertwined with grape vines.

The master bedroom looks out to a private garden and over a rain garden abutting the pool that collects and manages all of the runoff water for the site.

To the front of the house, grassy terraces defined by granite steps lead out to the fire pit.

To the North of the site, a vegetable garden with a trellis system overhead lead out to the guest house.

Soft lighting is built into the granite steps on the lawn terrace.

A large window collects sunlight for the main living room and carries the vista through the house and out back towards the pool.

Perennial gardens abut the corners of the house and bring the landscape much closer.

This section displays how the architecture was strategically placed at a higher elevation to take advantage of the view as well as act as the barrier between the semi-public and private sides of the estate.

In the back, the infinity edge pool carries off into meadow, while to the front, the terraced lawn falls down towards the fire-pit which is tucked into a retaining wall, all within the same viewshed.