Brookline Residence

Built into a hillside overlooking a working farm, the new shingle-style residence required a series of fieldstone retaining walls to create enough level grade to support the house and develop outdoor living and circulation spaces. A lawn ramp, constructed with the kind of large fieldstones typically used in farms, connects the entry level of the house to the upper outdoor living areas, where another retaining wall frames views of working farm fields. A large entry court includes a basketball court and doubles as a play area for children.

The hillside is planted with native meadow grasses and accessed by salvaged granite steps. A tightly edited plant list (Eastern white pine, red oak, fothergilla, shadblow) connects the landscape to the woods and fields that surround it, providing visual unity. Crab apples already on the property were integrated into the landscape where possible.

Designer: Richard Burck Associates / Photography: Justine Hand

Concord Residence

Completed in two phases, this project involved landscaping a newly built house (including working around wetlands, meadows and woodlands) followed by the seamless integration of the original property with newly acquired land adjacent to it. The project called for careful positioning due to the property’s narrow shape and the proximity of adjacent wetlands, which required close coordination to ensure the project conformed to Conservation Commission requirements.

The site was enhanced by raised perennial garden beds, freestanding stone walls separating the driveway and motor court from the entry, bluestone terraces and a pergola. Extensive woodland and birch tree plantings amplify the property’s rural character. Expanses of gently rolling lawn, carefully graded, connect different areas in the landscape.

New native fieldstone site walls fit seamlessly into the surrounding rural landscape. Masons selected and shaped the stone to ensure tight joints for durability while retaining much of the weathered faces and dry-laid appearance of the stone. Granite was salvaged on site and reused. When required, we specifically chose new stone to blend smoothly with the historic walls. The style of the property’s stone wall is intentionally a little “loose” so that it reflects and harmonizes with the character of the site; the coloration and natural cleft character of all stone used matches what we found on location.

We used as many native plantings as possible to blend the home and gardens harmoniously with the rural surroundings and establish a sense of place. Trees were thinned to enhance views. Wherever possible, existing native trees, shrubs and other plant material were transplanted within the site. In other cases, we moved existing 15- to 20-foot tall evergreens planted in straight rows to a more naturalistic grouping. Reusing plants already on site was both economically and ecologically advantageous. Many existing plants were moved to a new location, with the end product being layered plantings that did not look “new” at all. Ultimately, we moved a total of hundred shrubs, four dogwoods and ten spruce.

Architect: Leland Cott, FAIA; Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc. / Designer: Richard Burck Associates, Inc. / Photography: Justine Hand

South Woodstock Property

This 30-acre property includes the typical features of rural Vermont, including dry-laid masonry walls and agricultural fields, all of which needed restoration. Rebuilding the site’s landscape features has been a lifelong commitment of stewardship by its owners. Pathways and trails were created to take full advantage of the property’s varied landscape character, including an early 20th-century stone amphitheater, as well as views to the valley below.

The existing woodland is now managed via invasive species removal, selective pruning and clearing, and planting native tree species. Ongoing work includes the restoration of the existing orchard, management of the fields for production, the creation of a large vegetable garden, and the planting of nut and berry crops to continue the agricultural legacy.

The most visible dry-laid walls have been rebuilt using the traditional method of dry stacking and fitting the fieldstone. Vehicular circulation has been changed to accommodate a new garage added to the main barn structure. Goshen stone lends a rugged, timeless quality to the walks, terraces and stairs of the entry and side gardens. All of the gardens around the house have been redesigned and expanded to create more intimate spaces that are separate from the farm fields and court but share the dramatic views to the fields and forest beyond.

Designer: Robert Hanss Inc. / Photography: Matt Mattus and Catherine Hanss

Acton Residence

Extensive granite walls create a bold structure for the parking court, entry garden, side yard and back terrace. The inviting parking court is framed by stone walls, and further enhanced by a specimen tree planted in the central island, cobblestone borders, and chip and seal paving. Oversized granite piers define and anchor the entrance.

Expansive entry garden walkways and plantings lead to the front door and invite you to explore the gardens surrounding the house. The brick walks lead to the main entrances and back gate, while the pea stone walkways provide access to secondary entrances and lead through the lushly planted garden beds. Custom fencing fabricated of stained western red cedar with granite posts defines the northern edge of the entry garden and frames views across the backyard and meadow. The fence design is based on historic fences in the area. Monolithic stone steps installed throughout the landscape provide access at the house entrances. These solid stones were selected for the substantial and enduring quality they lend to the gardens. The lawn terrace is framed and supported by a low granite seat wall, and features a custom-fabricated granite trough and fountain. The fountain is meant to recall the rural agricultural character of the garden and surrounding areas.

A Goshen stone dining terrace sits beneath a pergola, with adjacent brick walkways leading to other areas of the garden. The back porch overlooks the lawn terrace, back lawn meadow and orchard.

Extensive tree, shrub and perennial plantings were added throughout the property. Gardens carefully blend in with the existing woodlands. Meadows established adjacent to the back lawn and entry garden are punctuated with apple orchard plantings as a distant focal point. Extensive grading was necessary to create the mounded play field and bowl-shaped amphitheater.

Landscape light fixtures are discreetly installed throughout the property for way-finding and to provide subtle accent lighting.

Designers: Thomas Wirth and Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC / Photography: Randy O’Rourke