Three Courtyards
Alexandria, Virginia
Three gardens, three ground planes, three water elements diversify and unite the house with the garden experience. Thermal bluestone pavers with stone dust joints replace the original brick in each. A material palette of water, bronze, bluestone, crushed stone, and simple plantings remains constant for all of the gardens, while creating three distinct garden experiences.
The south entry garden connects to the kitchen and functions as a dining terrace. A new bronze water tank flows into a small basin, creating a soothing sound in the garden space. Bronze planters are placed under an existing pergola with a long ipe bench used for garden parties.
The west garden features a negative-edge bronze water tank adjacent to the existing guest house. Plantings include blackhaw viburnum, winterberry, grape vines and climbing hydrangea.
The north living room garden centers on a new reflecting spa pool in a rectangular lawn panel with crushed stone edging. A vertical bronze panel is reflected in the water, and connects the visitor to the garden and the sky. Plantings include clipped yew hedges, American holly hedges, and American boxwood with specimen multi-trunked shadblow serviceberry trees flanking the new bluestone terrace under the existing porch.
Three Courtyards
Alexandria, Virginia
Three gardens, three ground planes, three water elements diversify and unite the house with the garden experience. Thermal bluestone pavers with stone dust joints replace the original brick in each. A material palette of water, bronze, bluestone, crushed stone, and simple plantings remains constant for all of the gardens, while creating three distinct garden experiences.
The south entry garden connects to the kitchen and functions as a dining terrace. A new bronze water tank flows into a small basin, creating a soothing sound in the garden space. Bronze planters are placed under an existing pergola with a long ipe bench used for garden parties.
The west garden features a negative-edge bronze water tank adjacent to the existing guest house. Plantings include blackhaw viburnum, winterberry, grape vines and climbing hydrangea.
The north living room garden centers on a new reflecting spa pool in a rectangular lawn panel with crushed stone edging. A vertical bronze panel is reflected in the water, and connects the visitor to the garden and the sky. Plantings include clipped yew hedges, American holly hedges, and American boxwood with specimen multi-trunked shadblow serviceberry trees flanking the new bluestone terrace under the existing porch.