Concord, MA - 2014

Set along the Sudbury River with views across a wetland meadow, this beautiful and unique site posed enormous challenges - more than 80% of the property is located within a Wetland Restriction Zone and regularly floods each spring. The clients’ programmatic needs included locating a new garage and improved access to the turn of the century home, which was set on a steep slope below the adjacent road.

Working with the clients, we designed a space that is beautiful, functional, and environmentally sensitive. A long curved fieldstone retaining wall was built to slow run-off from the adjacent road, reduce hillside erosion and subsequent pollution of the river. The wall also created additional usable space and improved access to the house. The perennial garden, consisting largely of native plants, served as mitigation for construction disturbance in the wetland zone. The garden, best viewed from the house and river, provides the clients with privacy and a seasonal display throughout the year.

Concord, MA - 2015

The design for this property was driven by the home’s Victorian architecture. Despite the building’s prominence along Concord’s Historic Main Street, there was no direct access to the front door. We introduced a new meandering brick walkway, as well as a rear terrace with a curved staircase for access to the river. In keeping with the architectural period, the plantings are romantic and vibrant.

The project required permitting through the Historic District’s Commission and the Natural Resource Commission. The design process included studies for the siting of a new garage and extensive mitigation plantings.