A durable landscape construction addresses site challenges with sustainable practices and enhances the site’s virtues with elegant design.

BEFORE: An aerial photo of the home under construction shows the severity of the barren landscape.

Entering the property at the natural cedar gate, a drive featuring paver edging and bands meanders downhill through the property.

A closer look at the details, permeable pavers were used in borders and decorative aprons throughout the long driveway.

DURING: A construction image highlights the installation of swales, a low-mow meadow, and native trees, all designed to manage water and minimize erosion.

A mown walking path weaves through trees and high grasses connecting with the road to create an engaging loop throughout the property. The rough sawn planks form a footbridge along the walking path over one of the drainage swales.

DURING: With 4,600sf of permeable paving, the parking court captures roof runoff from the building architecture and stormwater from the courtyard itself. Pavers are set on a 30” depth of layered crushed stone with a piped drainage system diverting away from the house to two planting rain gardens.

Dense planting of grasses helps to mitigate runoff and erosion while creating a gracious aesthetic.

The finished parking court provides an environmentally friendly water management solution, frames a charming entry to the home, and accommodates an expanded garage for our client, a car enthusiast.

Look closely and you’ll see a coastal bird enjoying the finished gardens. Approximately half an acre of the property and over 2,300 native shrubs, grasses, and perennials were installed in large planting areas creating rich habitat for coastal birds and pollinators.

To construct the croquet court, we first installed organic fill and gravel. Next, we applied a 6–8-inch layer of a specially blended sandy loam, ensuring it was completely level and perfectly compacted before laying the sod.

Landscape lighting provides safety and ambiance in the evening. The planted areas in and around the paved walkways and terraces are informal with soft structure and movement that responds to the wind.

A reinforced permeable pathway at the side of the home allows boat trailer access while maintaining a natural lawn appearance.

An ocean-side walk out from the lower level of the house is nestled within swaths of native grasses on either side to provide shelter from the wind. Patio stone walls were built to blend seamlessly with the existing architecture of the home.

The restorative native buffer planting, which includes highbush blueberry, arrowwood, red twig dogwood, and bayberry, is visually rich in textures and color.

In a permeable parking court, bluestone walkways showcase the entry to the home and offer an elegant area for the owner to display his classic car collection. Trees and grasses help to soften the expansive hardscape.

A mowing plan ensures appropriate care. Dominant species of grasses are little bluestem, switchgrass, prairie drop seed, and autumn moor grasses.