3 minute read
LAKESIDE BEAUTY
The visual simplicity of this modern contemporary landscape design is the perfect complement to the architecture of this lakeside home.
project credits:
architect: snow kreilich (matt kreilich, karkeat chong) builder: welch forsman (don forsman) landscape architect: travis van liere studio (travis van liere, emma froh) interior design: martha dayton design landscape contractor: landscape renovations
WWhen a new, more modern structure replaced a traditional 1950’s lake home, it was important to preserve beautiful existing gardens but a more restrained landscape was necessary to complement the home’s architecture. The clients were empty nesters and avid sailors and they wanted to build a more contemporary home that would better connect to the landscape, bring more light into the home and maintain their beautiful views to Lake Minnetonka. The existing one acre site contained several mature trees and priority was given to preserving the healthy ones and to maintain privacy and screening from the roads and highway. A new, sleek design emerged for the home with walls of windows to frame the views of the lake and the landscape. “We wanted to blur the lines between the architecture and site,” said Travis Van Liere, founder of Travis Van Liere Studio. “We created a sinuous connection from the house, to the mature treed site, the gardens and the lake beyond.” The exterior siding is accoya, a thermally modified wood finished with an oil process. It’s a low maintenance selection that gives the home the “beach house” feeling the clients desired. The structure was repositioned on the lot in order to conform to setbacks and required flood plain elevations for the lake. The front entrance and entry courtyard choreograph the sequence of entry to the house. Concrete pavers transition to a porcelain tile, which resembles stone. The entry glass creates a clear view through the home and to the lake – one of those amazing “aha” moments. The precision of boxwood hedge planting contrasts with the white of the birch trees and becomes an art piece that complements the entry experience. Subtle in-ground lighting illuminates the plantings after dusk. The decks are an extension of the architecture into the landscape; the design was a collaborative process with Snow Kreilich. Porcelain tile pavers are placed over steel frame decks that are elevated. Metal planters outfitted with an irrigation system are planted with a series of ornamental grasses. Sedums and succulents fill out the base of the plantings. The clients love to entertain so careful thought was given to how the house fits on a micro scale for intimate family events, as well as large, festive gatherings. The clients’ desire to preserve as many of the existing gardens as possible was achieved by creating viewing gardens in the greater part of the yard. The client wanted every window in the house to have a specific view so the gardens became the “artwork” for the home. The gardens were carefully transplanted, including the generational peony plantings from the client’s original childhood home and a shade garden filled with ferns and hosta. Lighting allows the gardens to be enjoyed at night. “The overwhelming intent of modern contemporary landscape architecture is that of visual simplicity,” added Bob Palmer, Owner of Landscape Renovations, who was involved in several aspects of the project. “Although it may appear simple, it is most often difficult to achieve. All lines in plant rows, paving, bed edges, wall lines have to be spot on to achieve the desired results. The tolerance for any variance is highly visible and can skew the finished product. Grades also must carry long lines at consistent planes as to not alter the visual. Plantings although numerous, are limited to a small number of varieties. This project is a perfect representation of a well designed and installed contemporary landscape.” The final product is beautiful in its elegance and simplicity. “We simplified and edited the landscape down to its purest version,” said
Travis. “Our clients embraced the more contemporary design but we were also able to preserve many existing elements that made the house their home for so many years.” tvlstudio.com • landscaperenovations.com • snowkreikich.com welchforsman.com SPRING 2021 27
