The 2016 CTC&G IDA Winners: Landscape

This luscious vernacular meadow site, adjacent to a mature apple orchard, horse trails and a nature preserve, is actually quite new—completed just two years ago by landscape architect Louis Fusco. The challenge was to create a new house and landscape with clients who were to be weekend residents. “I serve my clients, the land and the architecture,” notes Fusco. With this winning design for a naturalist landscape, entry court and pool, he has done just that.

Additional Resources:
Architecture, Greg Tankersley, McAlpine Architecture. Plant material (throughout), Hardscrabble Farms.

Fusco kept the lines clean. “It’s all about transitions from the architecture to the wilder areas of the property,” he explains. A sinuous drive bordered with understory trees passes through the woodland edge of the nature preserve.

Three new apple trees in the meadow echo the orchard next door. White-barked Himalayan jacquemontii birch dot the entry court. Overall, the feeling is refined, but backcountry and relaxed. And however simple things appear, the patio had to be flexible enough for entertaining parties of up to 100 guests.

Two large rain gardens sited within the meadow function as storm-water management; maintenance was a consideration. “We’ve done some elaborate gardens, but not here,” says Fusco. Weekenders have very specific times of the year that they are using the property: early spring and late August are the prime times. Plants reflect the owners’ schedule, with early helibores in the spring, and for late summer: black-eyed Susans, native grasses, Rose of Sharon and crepe myrtle. Masses of lavender blur the transition into the wild. Easy and relaxed, it’s the ideal weekend home.

This vulnerable point on the Long Island Sound shoreline suffered mightily under Superstorm Sandy. The good news: The owners already had been planning to remodel. Tara M. Vincenta, of Artemis Landscape Architects, was engaged to design a new pool, spa and landscape.

Additional Resources:
Architecture, Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects. Pool, Drakeley Pool Company. Masonry and plantings (throughout), Freddy’s Landscape Company. Engineer, Roberge Associates Coastal Engineers. Chairs, side table, chaise lounges, lounge chairs and coffee table, Janus et Cie. Adirondack chairs, Loll, through Design Within Reach. Fire pit, Concreteworks. Planters, DeepStream Designs. Umbrella, Tuuci.

After Sandy, the house had to be raised above newly established FEMA flood elevations. Vincenta’s challenge was to connect the house and new garden back to the natural shore landscape. It was a complicated program in terms of restrictions, which included coastal regulations and lot-size requirements.

Central to the design, a new pool and spa with overflow edges was located on the upper-level decks. An adjoining curved terrace acts as a bulkhead, provides storm protection and extra seating. Below deck, custom raised planters, anchored in, create privacy and allow storm waters to flow beneath them.

Dune-side, durable custom stainless bars brilliantly emulate dune fencing, enclosing the pool at beach level while maintaining views. By the shore, native materials were used so they wouldn’t be replanting every time it flooded. It was completed one year ago, and despite some significant coastal storms, “only minor replantings were needed down by the beach. It’s working out terrific,” says Vincenta.

Husband and wife John and Kimberly Conte have been involved in this comfortable lakefront estate since 2006, developing the site from master plan to maintenance. With two complementary businesses—Fairfield House & Garden, a landscape construction company established by John’s father in 1937, and Conte & Conte, a landscape design practice established by John in 1997­—the pair has handled the entire process, from soup to nuts. According to designer John R. Conte, managing both the design and the construction enabled him to maintain an unusual degree of control over the entire process.

Additional Resources:
Architecture, Grandberg & Associates Architects. Landscape construction and maintenance, Fairfield House & Garden Company. Pool, Signature Pools. Stone staircase, Bedford Stone.

Early design concerns included siting the new house atop a rise, where one catches the best views, and creating a graceful approach into the property. The clients wanted their children to have a rich home environment, hence requirements that included a swimming pool, golf green, tennis court, vegetable garden and seating area/boat launch beside the lake.

Garden rooms were carefully sited for privacy. Setting the pool atop a four-foot retaining wall removed the need for a safety barrier; the surrounding low stone wall allows the spectacular views to be enjoyed.

John R. Conte tackled the project as planner, environmental consultant and artist. But he is most pleased that the property is now a complete and well-loved family retreat.