u2014 ALE: Outdoor Living in Lansdale
Contemporary
Holly Days Nursery http://hollydaysnursery.com/horsham-landscapesupply/landscaping/landscapingawards/
Project Entry: Outdoor Living in Lansdale
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Hardscaping-Residential $60,000-$120,000
Award Level: Honorable Mention
Photo Description:
The beautiful columned pavilion in this outdoor living space simply takes your breath away. It is so perfectly proportioned to the recently constructed house that one would mistakenly think the architect had included it in the original design. The 16’ x 16’ pavilion occupies only one third of the paver patio which measures nearly 1,600 square feet and is 70’ x 39’ at its longest points. Adjacent to the pavilion is an open use area featuring access to and from the lawn; while at the opposite end lies an informal seating area and walkway to the drive. The patio is the cornerstone to other landscape and hardscape projects already being considered.
During the design phase our client emphasized that this property is her long-term residence; that is, she is consciously making improvements for now and the future. With regard to this improvement, she wanted to make sure she could enjoy the space even if she later developed mobility issues. The final patio design incorporates a more gradual change in grade from the rear entrance to ground level, a difference of nearly six feet, and allows movement from one use area to the next unimpeded by steps or other architectural obstacles. The clean lines and soft angles of this contemporary patio were created using Techo-Bloc Blu 60mm pavers in Mojave Beige, while the sitting walls and steps are capped with Techo-Bloc York Caps in Rock Garden Brown.
Site preparation included bricking up several window wells, extending and burying all downspouts and sump pump lines under the patio to the lawn area, as well as installing 1.5” conduits under walkways for future use. In addition to compaction of the sub grade and installation of geotextile fabric, Sonotube footers were set in place for the pavilion area. Base material for the pavers meets or exceeds ICPI standards. To achieve a continuously level finished surface, the pavilion area had to be elevated four feet at its lowest point, requiring construction of reinforced walls. All sitting walls and the pavilion area walls were created using Techo-Bloc Mini-Creta Wall stone.
A new walkway connects the driveway to the patio, again utilizing the Techo-Bloc Blu 60mm pavers in Mojave Beige and edged with Jumbo Buff Belgium stone in concrete footer with mortared joints. The front walk was edged with Jumbo Buff Belgium stone while the front porch received an upgrade using Techo-Block Blu 54mm and Venetian Overlay Caps and Risers Mojave Beige. Lastly, foundation planting beds were created using the Belgium stone as edging and topped off with ¾” red tipple stone.
The client-designer relationship and scope of the project are reasons why we feel this should be an award-winning project. The homeowner quickly recognized the value of working through the design process to ensure her vision of the overall built landscape met the demands of her current lifestyle and her future needs. The resulting paver patio, with its columned pavilion, clean lines and ample seating area, stands alone as an exceptional outdoor living space. However, it is destined to become the key element to an equally impressive overall landscape design.