A 2016 LCA Grand Award winning project in McLean, Virginia.

The landscape design for this family’s 5,200 square foot home includes hardscape and planting improvements to the entire property, as well as a canopy structure at the home’s main entrance. The owners desire for an improved outdoor dining area was met with an unrivaled custom outdoor living space outfitted with a fire pit, water feature with sculpture, and an outdoor dining area with a bar and grill. Natural stonework, abundant planting, and arcing lines found throughout the design complement the home and create a rich outdoor environment and experience.

SPECIAL OR UNIQUE PROBLEMS
Significant elevational changes across the site created both a challenge and opportunity. The design solution utilizes natural stone retaining walls and elevated planting beds to help take up grade and shape more expansive usable spaces.

In addition to the grades, the location of both the garage and existing drive at the south side of the property lent to a challenge in providing vehicular access and ample visitor parking. The new finished driveway achieves the access and parking demand by shifting the entrance drive to the north and a new concrete paver entry court provides additional parking.

Increase in the hardscaped area to meet the vehicular and parking needs, resulted in a large amount of impervious area and displaced runoff. A sustainable approach to the drainage design captures all of the roof and hardscape runoff and outfalls into an attractive infiltration basin at a low point in the site.