Winner: Wesley Stout Associates
Even Mother Nature has difficulty taming a river or softening the grade of a hillside, but the landscape architects at Wesley Stout Associates managed to not only change geography, but also improve upon it. A picturesque site along the Saugatuck River in Westport features a new stone entertainment barn and a revamped boathouse as part of a residential compound. A 40-foot grade between the two structures presented a challenge, but the team designed a series of walls and subtle grade changes that appear to effortlessly cascade down the slope. A seemingly floating staircase links the two buildings, while vaulting beds of native plantings not only look beautiful but also serve to stabilize the riverbank. Meanwhile, at the back of the barn, illuminated “lawn steps” wrap an outdoor kitchen. A series of terraces on the main area of the grounds contain green lawn areas encased in sharply edged concrete barriers. The existing hill has, indeed, been tamed, while the course of the river and the habitat along it remain honored.
Finalist: Brook Clark Landscape Architects
First impressions matter, even for homeowners who return again and again to their home. The land on which a new modern farmhouse sits in Ridgefield was a featureless parcel, so the designers at Brook Clark Landscape Architects created a sequence of “events” leading from the pea-stone entry drive to the front door and then on to the rear of the house.
Granite paths meander through the property, which is accented with low-rising fieldstone walls. A flagpole at the side yard provides a strong focal point surrounded by a geometric meadow filled with flowering native perennials. The mown meadow paths lead to a custom Corten steel gate and archway.
At the rear of the property is the main gathering space, something referred to as the Spool, an environment composed of a spa/mini pool with seating and water jets. The whole of the Spool is backdropped by a variety of colorful perennial plantings and a terrace, while stone lawn steps provide an easy transition to the generous rear lawn space.
Finalist: Rosalia Sanni Design
Lured by the peace and beauty at their weekend retreat from the city, these homeowners decided to make it their permanent residence. By removing existing, weathered structures on this six-acre site in the Litchfield County hills—along with a leaky swimming pool and a pergola ready to collapse under the weight of overgrown plantings—a new open vista over the region’s rolling landscape was revealed. That sense of openness was fostered with a new pool and free-standing spa, an inviting fire pit, patios, walkways and meadows. Existing large mature trees were integrated into the plan to lend a sense of age and character.
Newly carved paths allow for a lot of spots to take in scenic overlooks roofed by seemingly infinite expanses of open sky. The property is maintained organically and without an irrigation system to enhance sustainability, while a mix of ornamental and native plantings offer wildlife and pollinators something valuable throughout the year—infusing balance and natural harmony into the landscape.
