VALERIO MORANO SAGLIOCCO

Sustainability may be a trendy buzzword for much of the design and construction industry, but it’s clearly a way of life for the Morano Group. When designing or installing outdoor spaces for their clients, the team at Morano, headed up by Valerio Morano Sagliocco, are always looking for opportunities to infuse sustainable practices that give back to the surrounding environment. They evaluate every part of their practice, such as selecting native plantings and materials that will survive with less ongoing maintenance, having 25% percent of their maintenance equipment run on electric, and anticipating being 100% electric within the next four years.

At this newly built home in Chappaqua, NY, the clients sought a space that was rooted in sustainability, where their family, including their young-adult children, could gather. Given the company’s deep understanding of sustainable landscaping, the Morano Group was a natural fit, and was brought in as the landscape contractors to execute the design and perform the ongoing maintenance of the property in the years to come.

The outdoor centerpiece, a dual structure pool house, is centered on a three-season loggia space, anchored perfectly at the uniquely shaped pool. Because the daughter swims competitively, the pool was specifically designed with a longer swimming lap space running through it, maximizing it for fun and function. It is filled with saltwater, allowing more time in the water without concerns of harsh chemicals on the skin.

The plantings around the property are stunning. The leafy plantings have a variety of textures that are visually appealing because of the multiple shades of green, and they are thoughtfully layered upon one another, adding depth and interest. This is particularly apparent at the rain garden, which houses a variety of native and pollinating plants.

While the rain garden was not in the initial design, Valerio and his team worked with the owner and designers to integrate it for better use of the natural runoff water on-site. The water collects in a basin populated with native plants and pollinators to “encourage biodiversity and support plant material that is native to the area,” Valerio explains. This allows the water to recirculate and benefit the ecosystem and environment.

To maintain the sense of sustainability and regional character, the designers carefully considered the hardscape material as well. The team opted to use bluestone quarried locally in Penn - sylvania. As Valerio points out, using limestone or marble from other parts of the country or world would add to the cost of delivering the product. These stones would also make the design more prone to cracking and breaking sooner than native options because they originate from a climate unlike New York’s.

All in all, this home delivers on the concept of sustainable design done beautifully, and demonstrates that these features not only enhance the environment, but the human experience within it.