Winner: Hollander Design Landscape Architects
Judge Joan Michaels describes the terrain in this garden design as “not unlike a fairy tale.” Throughout the thoughtfully mapped-out project, bees, birds, and butterflies are as welcome as the occupants of the house are, in distinct areas ranging from an orchard walk to a flowering meadow to restored wetlands and a pond. Adjacent to the house, borders and beds comprise planting materials known to thrive in “high-activity areas,” the designers say, which judge Bryan Young takes note of in his comment, “So elegant. The transitions blur together effortlessly, from wild to manicured, soft to hard, colored to monochromatic.”
Finalist: James Doyle Design Associates
The dramatically steep slope on which this decidedly contemporary house sits is mitigated by plantings of ornamental grasses and evergreen shrubs—in effect, taming the site while simultaneously retaining its shape. Situated on the edge of conservation land in Amagansett, the property required considerable attention and, the design team says, “a sense of place,” achieved by plantings and hardscaping that connect the street-side upper level of the house with a rear garden on the lower elevation. “The use of plant materials to create interest on different planes is very strong,” says judge T. R. Pescod.
Finalist: LaGuardia Design Group
Forget about a conventional lawn and think instead of a meadow, the defining natural element of this landscape design, which Bryan Young describes as “soft and wild, something very difficult to achieve without it feeling forced.” To make the meadow, the design firm planted native grasses and colorful wildflowers, creating a sumptuous habitat for wildlife at the same time. Anchored at one end by a smattering of small trees, the meadow also “serves as a low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns,” the firm says, “reducing the need for watering and chemical applications.”
