Mountain Laurel Haven

The Cat Rock project is an exercise in ecological design with the priority of providing wildlife habitat. The property has many unique features: a vernal pond, diverse topographical changes, and native plants such as Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel), Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern), and Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry). It also suffers from multiple invasive plants-Japanese stiltgrass, Oriental bittersweet and a meadow of Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry) adjacent to the property-and deer, both of which presented design and management challenges.

Native plants were a priority to the clients, as part of the overall goal of increasing the ecological value of the property. The resulting design focused on marrying the contemporary house with the surrounding woodland landscape. Using a minimalist monochromatic scheme, the back of the house was transformed into a calming sanctuary, where the clients could relax and entertain on a bluestone patio surrounded by a mix of Kalmia transplanted from around the site, a variety of native ferns, Betula nigra (River Birch), Houstonia caerulea (Bluets), and moss. The moss existed naturally and has been encouraged throughout the property as part of the management plan for the property.