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Architects: Mikyoung Kim Design
- Year: 2007
Text description provided by the architects. This project is situated within a three-acre native hardwood forest overlooking Farrar Pond, one of the many ponds linked to Walden Pond, Thoreau’s historic home in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The design intent was to harmonize contemporary materials and design elements with this native plant palate and natural kettle and kame geology. A rich tapestry of native plants that transform over the seasons weaves seamlessly with the existing forest. The sculptural fence flows through openings in the forest and over various ground plane materials, both defining and blurring boundaries. The landscape design reflects the client’s deep respect for land stewardship while asserting a contemporary design language that reflects the client’s interest in art and sculpture.
The design seeks to enhance the natural beauty of the site by using a rich tapestry of native plants that protect the existing ecological and watershed conditions. The plant palate defies conventional high maintenance plant choices and opts for options that do not require chemical maintenance or any irrigation systems. A grove of Paper Birch (Betula Utilis) frames the main entry to the driveway. A secondary gateway of River Birch (Betula nigra) is located prior to the main pedestrian entry to the house. Finally, a third Paper Birch grove is designed to weave through the CorTen Fence and creates a dialogue with the existing Birch trees throughout the native forest landscape that slopes down to Farrar Pond.
The programmatic needs included a protected zone for their dogs and a secure area for short walks, a series of pathways through the property and a koi pond that overlooks Farrar Pond from an exterior lilac bluestone patio area. Granite stepping stones are stitched with a moss and thyme ground cover offering an experientially and visually dynamic path through the forest. The Cor-Ten Flex Fence weaves in and out of the native hardwood forest registering the movement of the ground. Nestled in the building a Koi pond, constructed of laminated stainless steel layers and a large custom cast glass piece echoes the view of Farrar pond from this outdoor lilac bluestone patio. A layered Stainless Steel Trough fountain system at the edge of the Koi Pond aerates and filtrates the water at its source.
The project maintains the resonant qualities of this New England forest landscape and the town’s strict land stewardship by laws of watershed protection and dark sky requirements while asserting a contemporary constructed language that speaks to the client’s interest in art and sculpture.
Text provided by Mikyoung Kim Design.
