The ‘Seaside Villa’, located on a 0.80-acre lot along the shore, required a creative and integrative approach to the landscape design. While the architecture and interior design of the residence are inspired by a Modern Italianate style, the landscape design draws from this influence while simultaneously connecting the property to its seaside location. This was accomplished through the planting design, which establishes a hierarchy of style and program to the garden.

Contorted juniper trees, visible from the street and from the main interior spaces, ground the architecture to the landscape in both appearance and scale while evoking the site’s windy coastal conditions. Tidy plantings of hydrangea, inkberry and fountain grass complete these formal landscape spaces. As the lot progresses eastward toward the sea, massed plantings of native, salt-tolerant goldenrod, switchgrass, and beachgrass dominate the garden, their softened textures and splashes of color matching the sparkling ocean waves beyond. A hardy, mixed hedge of juniper and native bayberry lines the property edge, providing the garden with privacy while sheltering it from the coastal winds.

As with the plant selection, the hardscape materials were also chosen for their resiliency. For this family home, the longevity and flexibility of the accompanying garden spaces were a specific client request. Robust materials such as Ipe and basalt were utilized in the detailing of the pavements, fencing, and pergola to tolerate the anticipated heavy foot traffic and use, as well as to withstand the harsh seaside conditions. Outdoor ‘garden rooms’, envisioned as an extension of the interior, provide a variety of entertainment spaces to accommodate both intimate and large gatherings with extended family. Resort-style amenities include a sun deck, an outdoor kitchen and dining areas, a family lawn, lounge spaces and a beach access path. To ensure comfort, large trees provide seating areas with shade, while the outdoor dining pergola protects guests from sun, wind, and rain. A vegetable garden provides fresh wares for family meals and an area of respite from the active garden spaces.

The resulting landscape-layered and lush-stands out in a neighborhood that is otherwise dominated by monotonous gardens of extensive lawn and exotic hedges. The client, who feels as though they are on vacation while living at home, is a testament to the garden’s success in weaving together a mix of styles and programs into an immersive and functional outdoor environment for the family to connect and celebrate the spirit of place.