Fire Island

By Brendan Sheehan

Fire Island, often described by locals as the ?EUR??,,????'??Bohemian?EUR??,,????'?? version of the Hamptons, features an eclectic mix of exclusive private and pubic communities that nestle on this narrow finger of land south of Long Island, New York. The Hall/Kayman Residence, located on the beachfront of the Seaview community, takes full advantage of the pristine views, but bears exposure to the intense winds, relentless sun and salt that typifies seaside conditions.

The soilscaping around the east fence had dunes placed on both sides to supply additional support.

Following refurbishment of the 2-level house, with a new raised pool, deck and fencing, the client approached Town and Gardens, Ltd. to address code requirements for the soil grade. Soil levels had to be raised around the pool?EUR??,,????'???s sloping facades and the base of the fence to omit any clearance that could promote a fire hazard on the 10,000 square foot property.

Marine-grade plywood was attached to both sides of the fence frame to protect the existing frame.

Early into the conceptual process, a core element of the design was conceived in the form of unique soilscaping that would emulate seaside dunes in their natural state. Using principles of progressive realization, the viewer?EUR??,,????'???s passage through the garden was enhanced in the following ways. The dunes were designed to add visual interest and vertical scale to linear spaces inside and outside of the property?EUR??,,????'???s fencing.

Perennials included Perovskia atriplicifolia and Nepeta X fassenii for their beautiful lavender flower spikes (A), Montauk daisy for a white accent through fall (B), Hemerocallis fulva for striking lily-like flowers©, Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis rosea, Astilbe simplicifolia, as well as culinary herbs (D) like thyme and rosemary.

Local contractors, familiar with the challenges and restrictions of the area, bid on the implementation of the design developed by Town & Gardens Ltd. Various issues had to be overcome in order to initiate the project including contract work permits to operate machinery in the residential area and travel with heavy vehicles on protected beaches. Work schedules also had to operate around tide schedules, while the specified soils and plant material had to be imported from the mainland by barge.

This picture reveals the final incarnation of the project, with the manufactured dunes and the various types of vegetation.

The entire process from design to planting was approximately ten months. The grading phase of work was completed during a harsh winter to prepare adequately for spring planting. Contractors imported more than 150 cubic yards of highly organic topsoil, which was specified for its drainage and binding qualities. Authorized construction vehicles reached the property via circuitous beach route from the mainland bridge rather than the Seaview community roads.

A custom framework was designed prior to grading. Once implemented, it was used to provide stability for the fence where the dunes were placed, to counter the substantial weight of the soil.

Access to the inner fenced garden area was limited to a double doorway that would permit only the smallest grader to enter. With little more than ten feet on average between hardscaping elements, most of the work to be done by hand.

Only a small grader could enter the area due to the limited access.

In some instances, such as the east fence, the dunes were strategically positioned to support the fence from both the inside and out, with soilscaping built up incrementally to reduce unecessary loading and prevent collapse of the fence. Elsewhere, as in the case of the north fence, soilscaping was only done on the inside.

Contractors imported more than 150 cubic yards of highly organic topsoil, which was used to help create the dunes.

This was because the area from the fence to the property boundary was limited and as a result deemed impractical for grading. Furthermore, such grading would likely stress the proposed screening trees and shrubs behind the north fence and render their rootballs unstable. To counter this substantial soil weight, a custom framework, spaced in accordance with the planting plan, was designed and installed prior to the grading.

As seen here, much of the imported soil was used in the process or recreating a seaside dunescape.

In anticipation of the period of time between grading and planting, approximately 5,000 square feet of photosynthetic, biodegradable geotextile, was installed and pinned down with sod staples to prevent wind erosion. Woven coir mat was selected for its material composition and measured lifetime, which would coincide with the time when the plants were well rooted.

This picture shows the dunes, the tight work space and the snow fence that was installed around the perimeter to keep the indigenous deer population from entering the property.

The planting plan was an equally thematic and visually stimulating grass-based design accented with select perennials. More than a dozen grasses were selected for a variety of functional and aesthetic characteristics, including dune stabilization, screening and high tolerance for deer, salt and wind. The form, texture, color and plumes of the grasses were designed to reveal the presence of wind and suggest a naturalistic environment.

Grass selection included maiden grass, flame grass, Japanese silver grass, feather reed grass, switch grass and blue oat grass.

Substantial screening of northern and western views was achieved using large caliper Western Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) and Blue Spruce (Picea pungens ?EUR??,,????'??Glauca?EUR??,,????'??). Hardy Russian Olives (Eleagnus angustifolia) were used as structural planting, intermediate in height between tall grasses and trees on the western side. In order to protect the plants from the large deer population during establishment, snow fencing was installed along the property perimeter.

To reduce the risk of fire hazard, the soil levels around the pool had to be raised on the sloping facade.

During spring, a multi-zone pop-up irrigation system, tailored to the idiosyncratic water pressure on Fire Island, was installed along with a rustic flagstone walkway winding around the garden dunes. The irrigation system was installed at the base of the graded dunes, with piping running under the walkway. The result of a unique design and execution, built literally and thematically on the graded dunes is a wonderful garden retreat that would be tempting to even the most ardent beach lover.

This is the completed side view |of the house with the finished vegetation and walkway. On the horizon, the beach is just beyond the 15-foot high dune in front of the house.

The goal here was for the soilscaping to emulate seaside dunes in their natural state.

The author is Senior Landscape Architect for Town & Gardens Ltd., New York, NY. Town and Gardens, Ltd. is a Landscape Design/Build firm based in Manhattan, New York. The company has operated for more than eight years and is owned and managed by its partners, Don Sussman and Chris Fitzpatrick.