Garden, building and circulation improvements design for a 4.5 acre rural property mindful of a family's wish to build a restorative place to live and share with their community.

The plan provided home improvement ideas the owners could build with small investments over a long period of time, like more room for guests, better vehicular circulation, pasture management, woodland restoration, walking trails and water catchment.

The overall plan also proposed a secluded tea house, a terraced food garden, a greenhouse and a new earth covered house that aligned with the owner's higher aspirations.

Landscape

Trees and shrub plantings worked together to guide and please the eye when viewed from the buildings, roadways and paths.

Western Hemlocks, with their distinctive floppy tops, formed the core note of repose for plant groupings.

The wider hallways, skylights, larger windows and additions worked with long axial views across the landscape to lighten things up.

House Renovation

The house additions and loop driveway created more room and gathering spaces for guests

Skylights, sunroom, addition, parterre, circular driveway, greenhouse.

Herb and vegetable garden, dwarf fruit trees
Edible chestnut trees

Native Pacific Northwest trees like Red Alder, Western Hemlock, Western Dogwood, Western Crabbapple.

Tea House

The small tea house took in morning light and valley views provided a retreat for small social gatherings.

Rock garden with ornamental, specimen trees.

New House

The proposed two-story organically shaped earth covered house spiraled two-stories upward around a glass geodesic half domed atrium. The structure embraced trees and created semi-enclosed outdoor spaces.

Skylights. Could walk onto the roof from the ground.

They wanted something more representing peace and retreat.

Responsibilities

Building design, landscape design and presentation drawings.