Moreland Village Sketchbook 2017 by Palmetto Bluff

Moreland Village

Moreland was one of at least 15 separate plantations that once occupied the land that is now Palmetto Bluff. Owned by the Cole family, the property’s primary crops were indigo, rice, and cotton. The sketch to the left depicts some of the buildings on the property.

Today, the physical remnants of Moreland are few. Two cemeteries located near Old Moreland Road tell of a working plantation and give a glimpse into the life of the place. Pine trees now replace ground once scattered with cotton and new marsh exists in historic rice paddies. Live Oaks grace the banks of the creek and marsh that, to this day, provide strong protection from incoming storms.

Paying homage to the history of the place through traditional architecture

Moreland

history at palmetto bluff

and planning, Moreland Village is envisioned as a settlement that evolved from a plantation to a small riverside town to a bustling neighborhood.

“The summer homes established along the May River were characterized by certain design traits that had been adapted to meet the demands of the Lowcountry, and were often raised above the ground on piers to provide

adequate ventilation. In most cases, these clapboard-sided residences had large porches for casual living.

Several well-preserved examples of this vernacular form of Lowcountry architectural design can still be viewed in some of Bluffton’s remaining antebellum homes. The Cole-Heyward House is a splendid illustration. In the early 1840s, John J. Cole built this summer dwelling for his family on Boundary Street. Like many builders of the day, Cole chose plans for his house based on the early Carolina Farmhouse style of architecture, which was heavily influenced from the West Indies. John and his wife Caroline Corley owned nearby Moreland Plantation located at May River Neck, or present-day Palmetto Bluff.”

— Excerpt from “The Bluffton Expedition: The Burning of Bluffton, South Carolina, During the Civil War”, by Jeff Fulgham, 2012

Moreland vision

The Ultimate Inspiration for Lowcountry Adventure

Experience Principles Create and Celebrate Our Crossroads

Moreland will be designed to create the happy collisions that surprise and delight. From creating formal lifestyle hubs where programming and amenities share space, to finding and creating compelling “destinations” among our preserves and parks, to designing true gathering places where our trails and tracks intersect with each other – we will ensure that the exploration of Moreland is a communal experience. While we will encourage and embrace the time spent alone, we will ensure that this community comes together again and again.

Blur The Lines Between Indoor And Out, Developed And Undeveloped Moreland will create places and spaces where the indoors and outdoors feel united. With buildings that use windows, materials, and open spaces to spectacularly celebrate our unique outdoor environment, our architecture will both draw people in and inspire them to go out. At Moreland, nature’s design and man’s design come together dramatically. Boardwalks will wind amongst the trees before transitioning into dirt and back. Natural waterways will connect with developed waterways and pools – helping create a natural feeling even when you are in something that has been created. Moreland will provide a model for how design and development can celebrate the outdoor environment.

Bring Life To The Landscape Moreland will be a place of energy and activity – a natural environment that is enlivened by the people and passion that live and visit. Moreland will be filled with the laughter that comes from drinking and dining in inspiring outdoor environments. Moreland will be energized by the sounds of instruments and voices that we invite to play, sing, and talk in a one-of-a-kind setting. We will create centers of gravity – trailheads, game rooms, bars, imaginative events, and more – that attract a crowd. At Moreland, people will be compelled to congregate and celebrate as a part of a true community. Moreland won’t be afraid to get a little loud. Unlike the somewhat quiet reverence of Wilson, Moreland will have a hum.

Make It Easy To Explore The Lowcountry Environment Your Way Whether it is the serenity of a nature walk through the preserve, the challenge of testing your skills on the hunting grounds, or the pulse-pumping action of a four-wheeler tour of the property – Moreland is the ideal jumping off point for the best outdoor experiences of the Lowcountry. Our outfitters will be an unmatched basecamp where people gather to get the knowledge, gear, trail maps, and guidance to start their exploration of this unique outdoor environment – and will be home base for the celebration of those activities at the end of the day. Our conservationists and Lowcountry lifestyle guides will be contagious with their knowledge and passion – and Moreland’s programs will consistently inspire people young and old to immerse with this environment more fully. We will be innovative and creative in how we deliver on this promise – from expanded programs in the spirit of “Girlz Gone Wild” to kid-friendly surprises like a network of tree houses throughout the property. There will be no better place to have fun on the water, the marsh, and the woods of the Lowcountry.

Moreland Village

Design Principles

Palmetto Bluff draws upon the architectural

for shade and raised foundations to capture

or volumes that were broken up, rather than

be subordinate to the landscape, highlighting

and landscape traditions that shaped the

coastal breezes.

one main dominant volume. This evolution

Moreland’s natural character.

Lowcountry region. At Moreland Village the

preserved the more rural character of the

intent is to continue to build on this tradition

Coastal Context & Climate

Lowcountry and established a comfortable and

The predominant Lowcountry vernacular

to develop contemporary interpretations and

The influence of early settlers can be seen in

“human” scale to the buildings.

design will create a casual, relaxed, and simple

details that incorporate sustainable concepts.

the incorporation of wraparound verandas,

Lowcountry architecture is the result of a

porches, and raised foundations that

Moreland Village will continue to celebrate

amenities will provide for a rich diversity in

variety of cultural influences (English, French,

responded to the need of both ameliorating

these traditions, with a spirit that emphasizes

the community. Homes will feature expansive

and German) that are well suited to the area

the climate and taking advantage of breezes,

a simpler Lowcountry vernacular compared to

porches with an eye towards engaging the

with regard to climate and the use of local

sun, and coastal views through the orientation

the more refined architecture and landscape

street. Buildings will be “unbundled” so that

materials. The Lowcountry style is generally

of the house.

of Wilson Village. While each building will

they appear as a collection of simple related

be influenced by the past, the vernacular

forms rather than one single “box.”

characterized as having the following main

way of life. The mixture of lot types and

Generational Architecture

architecture of Moreland will feature design

As families grew, technology advanced, and

elements that are updated and modern.

The porch has evolved as one of the most

Relaxed & Informal Living

cultural influences changed, these factors

Homes will be typified by simple masses and

distinguishing features of the Lowcountry

The earliest settlers were mainly English

impacted the architectural design aesthetic

details, but high quality building materials.

vernacular and will be a prevalent characteristic

and French and they brought with them

of the Lowcountry. A primary house was

Larger masses will be broken down to be more

of Moreland. Porches should be used in

an architectural language that was more

constructed first and as the family’s needs

sympathetic to the vernacular context.

building designs to respond to sun orientation,

rectangular and formal. These designs were

changed, secondary wings and/or structures,

assimilated into the coastal climate of the

such as cottages, garages, dormers, and/

Moreland Village will feature a wide variety

applicable). Porches establish a neighborhood

Carolinas. The use of columns and symmetrical

or outbuildings were added. This evolution

of lot types and sizes, reflecting a small town

atmosphere and reinforce the informal quality

layouts were then relaxed with deep porches

created a collection of informal buildings and/

informality and coastal lifestyle. Buildings will

of Moreland Village.

elements and design philosophies:

views and the adjoining streetscape (where

Design Principles

Historical Concepts, LLC

Design inspiration

Historical Concepts, LLC

Beau Clowney Design

Historical Concepts, LLC

Beau Clowney Design

Geoff Chick & Associates

Beau Clowney Design

Stackable + Squires Design Group

Remark Studio, Flickr

Historical Concepts, LLC

Design inspiration Historical Concepts, LLC

Flickr Creative Commons

Geoff Chick & Associates

Historical Concepts, LLC

Troy Lucas

Stackable + Squires Design Group

Historical Concepts, LLC

Stackable + Squires Design Group

Court Atkins Architects, Inc.

Historical Concepts, LLC

Troy Lucas

Design inspiration Historical Concepts, LLC

Historical Concepts, LLC

Troy Lucas

Wiki Creative Commons

Historical Concepts, LLC

Troy Lucas

Geoff Chick & Associates

Historical Concepts, LLC

Design inspiration

Historical Concepts, LLC

Stackable + Squires Design Group

Geoff Chick & Associates

Historical Concepts, LLC

Design inspiration

Troy Lucas

Historical Concepts, LLC

Geoff Chick & Associates

Historical Concepts, LLC

Flickr Creative Commons

Design inspiration

Historical Concepts, LLC

Wiki Creative Commons

Beau Clowney Design

Historical Concepts, LLC

Shelia Wertimer

Beau Clowney Design

David Arsenault Photography, Flickr

Wiki Creative Commons

Moreland Village

Site Plans

Moreland Village