JANICE PARKER JANICE PARKER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

We began this designer/client dialogue with a single question: “What was your happiest vacation?”

Our clients. a young family with very active twins, didn’t have to think long—their most memorable holiday occurred in Italy where they cavorted in a vineyard, feasting on the local fare. A landscape with fresh food and the potential to deploy lots of kinetic energy was where they most wanted to be. How do we translate this to the design of their home? We suggested a high-quality vegetable garden, a prominent pool, an adjacent entertaining patio and a tennis court, and they agreed.

Putting food first, as the jewel in the landscape’s crown, was the ap- proach behind this particular design. From there, creating a nearby place to eat the harvested goods was the next important step, followed by the recreational and relaxation spaces. We use the “three times” formula—an outdoor kitchen needs to be three times the size of its indoor counterpart to give it breathing room in the panorama of all outdoors.

We like to consider ourselves as specialists in delivering the garden inspired version of the “Ahhh” moment. Our clients are hard workers who need a sanctuary to completely relax in when they get home. In other words, they need a vacation, of sorts, on a daily basis. For every family, the formula for relaxing is different and the method of which to help them get there is certainly not common knowledge. A lot of gardens look good on paper, but how do you make clean, modern, crisp space feel cozy?

Shared fences or hedges broadly frame these spaces. We worked to create an itinerary that flows seamlessly from one space to the next. By dropping spaces within spaces, the family can simultaneously enjoy the full experience of their gardens. Among the splashing and tennis racquet play, in the center of it all, are the tomatoes.

Janice Parker Landscape Architects

Janice Parker

95 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830

203.340.2824 janiceparker.com