Crossing the threshold of this garden, the experience of an Asian inspired garden begins. The overall design of this project borrows from a subtle technique traditionally used in Japanese strolling gardens. Strategically placed "pauses" are incorporated into the meandering pathway causing the visitor to slow or temporarily stop their passage through the garden. These intentional pauses in turn cause, or focus, the visitor’s attention on certain elements that the designer wishes for the visitor to be present for. In this case vistas of the rookery island, sculptural elements, garden art and a famous architecturally significant church are all highlighted at various points along the garden stroll.
As is traditional in Asian stone setting, individual stones were hand selected and then placed in a manner that strives to re-create how stones may be found in nature. Many of the stones were set to accentuate the vertical element, representing natural mountain shapes or other natural rock formations.
These massive elements of natural stone were chosen for their unique angular form and consistent dark hues. This stone is actually a form of iron ore and thus very dense and considerably heavier then typical granite boulders.
Winding through the terraces of stone is a crushed gravel pathway, with steps built out of a split face and flamed green granite brought from Lake Placid, New York. The garden pathway is nestled among the boulders and plants which guide the visitor toward the lake. A mixture of Wooly Thyme, Gold Acre Sedumn and Ferns partially cover and naturalize the rock formations. Accenting the garden is a hand carved granite Japanese lantern.
This photo documents the site prior to the garden installation. The design process included careful consideration in blending an Asian / Japanese influenced garden with the modern architectural design of the home.
Softening the edges of the green granite steps is an ornamental grass, Hakonechloa, also known as Golden Japanese Forest Grass ‘Aureola’. The garden is planted with a variety of groundcovers, perennials and specimen plant material including Japanese blood grass, hand-pruned sculptured Australian pines, mature Japanese maples and Korean firs. Hand carved Japanese granite lanterns and imported river stones serve as finishing touches.
These massive stone boulders were brought from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and were chosen for their dark hues and unique angular form. They were arranged in a traditional Asian style. The stairs for this project were constructed out of Mountain Green granite and were brought from Lake Placid, NY. The top surface has a flamed finish, with the sides and front having a textured, split face. Chosen to maintain the consistency of the garden, they blend organically with the massive iron ore boulders which serve as both frame and foundation for the staircase.
Each stone in this Asian garden was carefully selected studying the individual natural shape of the stone. Its use was then determined in how the placement of the stone would help achieve the artistic balance being sought.
The terrace was built using centuries-old granite pavers that were also used for the the front drive and motorcourt. The use of this reclaimed material provides an effective transition from the modern design elements of the home into the traditional design of Asian influenced garden.
One of the challenges for this space, working under the overhang of the house, was to design and create a unique area of interest in a location of extreme conditions of both low natural light and no exposure to rainfall or ambient moisture.
Utilizing principles of the dry raked Zen garden, the theme of water and movement were incorporated into this space. The raked gravel, representing ripples in water, accentuate the architectural lines found in the home. In this setting, the Zen garden mirrors the vistas from the terrace of the adjacent lake and rookery islands.
The gently undulating lines in the gravel are a poetical reflection of the ripples on the lake on which this home sits.
The dry garden itself is constucted from a bed of crushed granite chips that are then carefully raked into wave-like patterns. Stones were selected and carefully positioned to mirror the islands in the lake that is viewed from this garden space.
The use of the stone Zen garden was a way to create the effect of incorporating water as an element, without actually using a water feature.
The elongated shape of the stone accentuates the architectural lines and details of the home while the antique patina etched into these stones is a result of hundreds of years of use and exposure to the elements and village traffic.
Before reaching the lake, visitors find themselves greeted by a life-size Marshall Frederick sculpture entitled “Leaping Gazelle”.
A custom limestone base with reveals was specifically designed for the placement of this significant sculpture.
Crossing the threshold of this garden, the experience of an Asian inspired garden begins. The overall design of this project borrows from a subtle technique traditionally used in Japanese strolling gardens. Strategically placed "pauses" are incorporated into the meandering pathway causing the visitor to slow or temporarily stop their passage through the garden. These intentional pauses in turn cause, or focus, the visitor’s attention on certain elements that the designer wishes for the visitor to be present for. In this case vistas of the rookery island, sculptural elements, garden art and a famous architecturally significant church are all highlighted at various points along the garden stroll.
