In an additional effort to conserve water while also contributing to the native plant and wildlife populations, we use drought tolerant perennial plants such as Echinacea and Salvia in our designs to attract pollinators and shrink the planting area of the thirsty annual flowers. The results were healthy plants, water savings and a happy customer.

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

Steve Bracci
Large elegant white two-story wood gable roof photo in Atlanta

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

Saturday, May 30, 2:30pm to 4:00pm | Atlanta Rivermeade Residence by Bill Caldwell of Harrison Design Envisioned by the owner as a seamless assimilation of house and garden, Rivermeade was conceived as a collaborative effort between owner, architect, and landscape architect. The 2.5 acre site lies in the shadow of historic Standing Peachtree Fort at the Chattahoochee River and abuts a conservation easement, providing delightful views to a natural meadow and wildlife. The owner’s decree was to have a view to a garden from every window in the house, so the landscape was designed as seven garden rooms oriented in relation to the house. Each garden space accents the home’s design through the use of complementary building materials and features garden pieces collected by the owner over the years. Since its construction, Rivermeade has been featured on the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Connoisseur’s Tour and provided a backdrop for Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse television sitcom. Photo by Lee Ann White

Saturday, May 30, 2:30pm to 4:00pm | Atlanta Rivermeade Residence by Bill Caldwell of Harrison Design Envisioned by the owner as a seamless assimilation of house and garden, Rivermeade was conceived as a collaborative effort between owner, architect, and landscape architect. The 2.5 acre site lies in the shadow of historic Standing Peachtree Fort at the Chattahoochee River and abuts a conservation easement, providing delightful views to a natural meadow and wildlife. The owner’s decree was to have a view to a garden from every window in the house, so the landscape was designed as seven garden rooms oriented in relation to the house. Each garden space accents the home’s design through the use of complementary building materials and features garden pieces collected by the owner over the years. Since its construction, Rivermeade has been featured on the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Connoisseur’s Tour and provided a backdrop for Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse television sitcom. Photo by Lee Ann White

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

This stylish Brentwood home had recently been renovated while preserving the integrity of its original mid-century design, and architecture. With furniture and furnishings true to the stylish time period, this was a perfect yard to imitate the aesthetics of the infamous Brazilian Landscape Architect, Burle Marx. This family needed a fun, yet functional space to host friends and family; but wanted to preserve the timeless aesthetics of the stylish Mid-Century flare. Burle Marx is famous for his organic nature within modernist landscape architecture. We pulled inspiration from Marx, as one of the first people to call for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests, to introduce a palette of native and beneficial plant materials to mimic his environmental efforts. We also pulled from his artistic expressions with our curved and dramatic garden bed lines, and placement of specimen plantings. All in all, we created a truly timeless landscape design, that’s style will easily convey generation to generation. Caleb Kerr - http://calebkerr.com

Situated in old Palo Alto, CA, this historic 1905 Craftsman style home now has a stunning landscape to match its custom hand-crafted interior. Our firm had a blank slate with the landscape, and carved out a number of spaces that this young and vibrant family could use for gathering, entertaining, dining, gardening and general relaxation. Mature screen planting, colorful perennials, citrus trees, ornamental grasses, and lots of depth and texture are found throughout the many planting beds. In effort to conserve water, the main open spaces were covered with a foot friendly, decorative gravel. Giving the family a great space for large gatherings, all while saving water.