Landscape Architect Articles

A Backyard Resort06-10-16 | Feature

A Backyard Resort

Great Oaks Landscape, a design-build firm located in Detroit, did the full landscape for this residence in nearby Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The owners desired a resort-like backyard that could host a large party, but still have intimate areas for smaller get-togethers. Not counting subcontractors, a team of 20-25 from Great Oaks spent more than a year designing and installing the backyard getaway.

A custom wrought iron gazebo covers one of the intimate areas of the backyard: a small dining patio behind the pool. A gas fireplace constructed out of stone provides warmth and atmosphere to the area. According to the team at Great Oaks, coordinating the details and timing for the custom elements, including the ironwork for the gazebo, was the biggest challenge of the project.

On either side of the spa, three scuppers send water flowing into the pool. At the upper corners of the pool, two custom fire bowls sit on top of stone columns. The bowls are made of limestone, with steel bases custom designed by Great Oaks.

The owners of this residence in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., wanted a resort-style backyard landscape where they could entertain friends at large gatherings, but still have small spaces for different activities and groups. Unique materials and a pool were must-haves for the homeowners.

Great Oaks Landscape, a design-build firm located in the Detroit area, worked with them over the course of four to five months to create a design that they loved. Once that was finalized, it took about ten months and a crew of 20-25 workers, including four landscape architects and designers, a project manager, as many as 15 installers, and an arborist with assistants, to create the backyard resort space. Amenities include the requested vanishing edge pool with spa, a custom wrought iron gazebo and more.

The Terrain
Before any of the amenities could be installed, the land had to be prepared. Great Oaks used an excavator, mini excavators, and rubber track skid-steers to move earth and prepare soil for plantings. Ninety-inch tree planters were used to place large trees on the site. Boxwood, including wintergreen and Julia Jane varieties, frame the backyard and its intimate areas. Large columnar hornbeam was also planted around the rear of the yard. The irrigation was completed by local company Trost Irrigation.

Limestone pavers set in grass and surrounded by a travertine path lead from the home to the pool. The patios around the pool as well as at the upper fireplace are also travertine, with cobblestone-like accent block pavers that coordinate with the elevated columns around the pool and the seat walls to the rear of the pool patio.

Making a Resort
To help give the yard the desired feel, subcontractor Gillette Pools constructed a 24' x 50' infinity pool. Water cascades over the infinity edge to a second shallow pool below. Said the team at Great Oaks, "Elements including overflow coping, a pebbled finish, and a glass tile inlay of the family crest embedded into the floor were chosen to define the unique, subtle charm of the pool. On the upper terrace, columns at each end of the pool feature grand custom ironwork fire bowls. A circular spa is located in the center of the upper terrace, where water cascades over deep blue glass tiles into the pool below. Scuppers under the upper terrace coping also spill water into the pool." The steel bases that support the limestone fire bowls were custom designed by Great Oaks. At night, the space is lit with Kichler LEDs.

Along the pool's infinity edge, water cascades over a tiled mosaic into a second shallow pool. The family crest is embedded into the floor of the 24' x 50' main pool. An elevated circular spa at the center of the upper terrace has a waterfall edge that spills water over dark blue glass tiles.

Viewing the backyard from the house, a grid of limestone and grass draws focus to the infinity pool and the gazebo beyond. Much of the patio is paved with travertine, though some areas near the pool have cobblestone pavers that coordinate with the surrounding columns and elevated elements. The yard is hedged with different boxwood varieties, including Julia Jane and wintergreen. Large columnar hornbeams line the back edge of the property.

Behind the pool, focus is drawn to a custom wrought iron and brick gazebo that shelters an intimate seating and dining area, one specifically requested by the homeowners. The iron for the gazebo was fabricated by the same company that created the fire bowl supports.

A grand stone gas fireplace provides the space with warmth and ambiance. The surrounding landscape is canvassed with subtle plantings that give justice to the natural woodland setting behind it. According to Great Oaks Landscape, coordinating the details and timing of the custom items, such as the fire bowls and the gazebo, was the greatest challenge.

As seen in LC/DBM magazine, June 2016.