Landscape Architect Articles

French Inspired Neo-Classical Garden01-03-11 | News

French Inspired Neo-Classical Garden

by Lara Moffat, MLA, Lambert Landscape Co.

The Dallas home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Attention to detail is the key to this garden?EUR??,,????'?????<

Terminating the southern axis of the property is a recumbent stag. Its placement and the aperture of the hedge deceives the eye into thinking the garden is more extensive.

Introduced by the interior designer, landscape architect Paul Fields quickly developed rapport with the well-traveled client. Paul?EUR??,,????'?????<

The first-time visitor to the residence is greeted by heavily carved gate piers and beautifully hand-wrought ironwork. Green walls of ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Design du Jardin
Approaching the property entrance, a first time visitor is greeted by heavily carved gate piers and beautifully hand-wrought ironwork. Green walls of Nellie Stevens hollies purposely screen the landscape enclosed. Entering the Valders?EUR??,,????'?????<

Mature live oaks flank the bed, framing the residence, while grounding the architecture and disguising its age. Both were transplanted on site to create the symmetry, which demanded a creative solution to a potential logistical nightmare. For those wondering, the trees are healthy and thriving.

Geraniums offer a nice color contrast to these boxwood hedges.

In keeping with the renovations stylistic theme of southern France, the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Looking back along the front and down the front garden?EUR??,,????'?????<

Looking back along the front and down the front garden?EUR??,,????'?????<

The cobblestone (Valders) oval drive leads to an antique marble fountain centered in a quatrefoil limestone, framed by a low boxwood hedge and mass seasonal plantings. Mature live oaks, transplanted on site, frame the residence, while grounding the architecture and disguising its age. The trees are healthy and thriving.

Walking through the home, the landscape is visible from almost every window and glimpses of the series of garden rooms unfold. Exiting through the loggia, once stark with little softscape to diminish the harsh eastern exposure, it is now as though you are not in Dallas at all. The previous design enclosed paving up to the rear fa?????ade. To soften the vastness of limestone, a fountain was replaced with a lush lawn panel and dense creeping fig now covers the stucco columns. Colorful seasonal plantings fill the lead and Impruneta terra cotta containers that are sited strategically.

The views from the loggia include the azure pool flanked by pleached magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) and conclude at the pavilion, though the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

A grove of pleached magnolias are bordered by a checkerboard of Lueders limestone and Tiff Bermuda.

Almost resembling a green tent and embellishing the adjoining walls is orange berried pyracantha formally espaliered in a diamond pattern. Wanting the feel of a resort, the cushions of the furniture were custom upholstered and like the ironwork, link all the garden rooms together.

The child (putto) in this French stone/marble fountain holds a trident astride a stylized dolphin surmounting a scallop shell bowl circa 1850. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Arcade Terrace
The arcade garden terrace, formally the site of a greenhouse, bears no resemblance to its former self. Intrigue, deception, luxury, contrast and excitement all describe the feelings one experiences when approaching this space. Truly an extension of the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Designed and ornamented to invite lingering, the arcade garden includes two distinct areas: seating near the fireplace and dining close to the outdoor kitchen. The fireplace features a repurposed mantle from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

The views from the loggia include the azure pool flanked by pleached magnolias and conclude at the pavilion.

How does the landscape architect create a garden of such timeless design?
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The courtyard comprises limestone cobble derived from the Valders basin and limestone steps and walls from Lueders Quarry in West Texas, said to be a harder, denser limestone than most others. Zinnias decorate the boxwood hedges.

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About the Firm
Lambert, which celebrated its 90th year in 2009, is the oldest design/build landscape architectural firm in Dallas. Lambert also has maintenance and tree care divisions. Paul Fields, ASLA, president and director of design, spearheads Lambert?EUR??,,????'?????<

A graduate of Mississippi State University, Mr. Fields has a bachelor?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lara Moffat initially studied art before focusing on ornamental horticulture at Richland and embarking on her master?EUR??,,????'?????<

The centerpiece of the arcade garden is a fireplace with a repurposed mantle from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<