The development of this design/build project was guided through the principles of maintaining the beauty and integrity of the natural landscape, while creating outstanding opportunities for integrating this new modern home within its waterfront setting.
Hardscape material selection was determined by utilizing excavated granite from on site where possible, and enhanced through the use of natural granite slab steps, angular boulders, random flagstone walkways. Natural looking concrete unit pavers were selected for the laneway and parking courtyard, complimenting the natural granite outcropping in texture and colour.
A serpentine pathway was developed through the granite walls, providing an gentle access through to the south beach shoreline. A unique, cantilevered wooden bench is nestled into a cleft within the granite walls, taking in a long view of the bay beyond the beach. Stone slab walls marry into the natural granite outcroppings and cliffs, allowing access where required.
A series of sitting terraces are strategically placed where they are nestled within groves of the existing mature White Pines and Oaks, and accommodate gatherings of various sizes to take in the waterfront views. Cedar decks are used where required to integrate into sloping areas. Other terraces vary from formal extensions of the home paved with square-cut granite flagstone, transitioning to random flagstone walkways and terraces where the topography will permit.
The leading edge of a sheer granite wall was used to anchor granite slabs steps to access the pavilion at the highest point on the property. This challenging build was worth the effort, producing a stunning stairway that has become a feature of its own. Granite from on site was used to face a wall extending from the granite outcropping to the slab steps.
Granite slab steps are used elsewhere to link sitting areas and pathways. These were hand dressed to fit the adjacent boulders. This detail provides a seamless transition between materials on the pathways to the sitting terraces.
The large beach terrace is used for watching sunsets together, and features a large fire pit. A large waterfall has been built into the rock face adjacent to the beach terrace, surrounding guests with the peaceful sounds of water flowing through the multiple falls and pools within this water feature.
Extensive landscape lighting allows easy access after the sun sets. Downlighting is used extensively from the mature pine trees to light the pathways and steps, as well as the sitting terraces. The lighting of the steps is further enhanced by using low-profile fixtures attached to the boulders along pathways.
The planting is largely a strategy of bringing the indigenous plants on the island into the landscape. A transition is created with ornamental planting directly adjacent to the home and along the walkways from it, and then interspersing the indigenous plants with the ornamentals, flowing into only indigenous species. The “lawn areas” are ground cover species found on site in which taller species are transplanted to other portions of the site.
The results are a well-crafted modern home that is sympathetically dovetailed into the natural landscape. Conservation strategies guided the landscape development to impose a minimal footprint, resulting in a landscape that integrates the home and garden rooms with the existing dramatic mature landscape.