Keeping a Family Connected

By Scott Johnson

Paragon Design Group provided a site master plan, demolition plan, grading plan, erosion control plan and landscape plan.

The whole of this complicated project included the complete renovation of an existing home, a new clubhouse/garage building and the renovation of the existing landscape that included a pool and spa/bar service building. However, most important to the functionality of the property was simplicity and ease of circulation since it was going to be the central meeting point for a large extended family. Even more interesting was the seamless way in which three levels of design?EUR??,,????'??+a landscape contractor, a landscape architect and a village stream bed mitigation project?EUR??,,????'??+came together to get the most out of the property.

Paragon Design Group was contracted by the owner of this renovation/addition project early on in the fall of 2001. Paragon sited the new building and developed a landscape master plan for the project. One of the biggest challenges of the project was the severe grade change from the front to the back of the property. The new building?EUR??,,????'???s finish floor elevation needed setting to create a space that was separate from the main entertaining space yet still felt like part of the overall complex.

The owner of this complex property lives adjacent to family members, so maintaining the connections next door was very important. The connecting paths lead to a central council ring and fire pit area that serves as yet another space to gather with friends and family.

A series of landings, stairs and terraces traverse the garden space, terminating on the main pool deck and patio level. Existing plantings were preserved by carefully designing the horizontal and vertical layout of the new cut lannon stone retaining walls and paver walks. Custom designed structures include a grape trellis, garden swing and entry arbor. Native planting areas, an orchard, a vegetable garden and herb garden further develop a rural elegance for the property while providing outdoor activities for the owner in his retirement.

The owner?EUR??,,????'???s neighbors include two of his children, and connections between the properties were an important consideration. Paragon developed random stone paths which intersect to form a council ring and fire pit area for gathering the families together. The creek at the back of the property was stabilized with native plantings, and a waterfall was added near an existing bridge. Boulder pockets and steppers provide areas of interest and exploration up stream.

Before: Not only did a finish floor elevation need to be set, but the pool and entertaining space in the rear yard needed renovation because it was very overgrown and desperately in need of repair.

Renovation of the existing home had already begun, and the architect was preparing plans for the clubhouse addition that would require village approval. Paragon?EUR??,,????'???s charge was to review the existing buildings and outdoor spaces in order to site the new building, set a finish floor elevation and renovate the pool and entertaining space in the rear yard which needed repair.

From the outset, it was apparent that the slope of the site would have to be dealt with, and ideally, a solution needed to be created that would be functional as well as attractive. The home sits below the street on a double lot, and a walkout basement level provides one half of the living space in the ranch style home. An existing stair and pedestrian bridge arrangement brought visitors from the front of the house to the rear pool level?EUR??,,????'??+an overall change in grade of over 12 feet. The Japanese themed garden had become overgrown from neglect, and a water feature prevented circulation around the concrete paver pool deck. An outdoor spa and bar is part of the pump building opposite the house, and a seasonal stream runs through the back of the property.

After: A combination of severe grade changes, general disrepair and a non-intuitive series of random paths was pulled together by using the changes in grade as an asset to create a separation between individual areas that had walks and stairs linking them together.

The project program included a new ?EUR??,,????'??clubhouse?EUR??,,????'?? building with a patio, driveway access, link to an existing deck, existing pool and spa, outdoor bar, barbeque, fire pit and paths to adjacent lots where the owners?EUR??,,????'??? children and grandchildren live. With so many elements coming together in a relatively small space, keeping the design simple and understandable was very important. The grading plan development for the main spaces was critical. The new clubhouse was to sit on the adjacent lot and would occasionally require driveway access to the existing driveway. Our concern was how the new building would relate to the rest of the site since the owner was looking to use it as an entertaining space for smaller groups and as a hub of outdoor hobbies including gardening and wine-making.

The overall concept was to develop different outdoor spaces the owner could use for entertaining various groups, gathering with family plus outdoor activities such as gardening. Therefore including an orchard and herb garden was important.

A new staircase from the existing first floor deck was a logical connection from the first story, while creating a natural transition from the home to the outdoor living spaces. The new stairs have 14-inch treads and six-inch risers making for easy climbing without being intimidating?EUR??,,????'??+despite a rise of over six feet.

The key to the success of this project from a grading standpoint began in the early stages where Paragon explored both the possibilities of the site and needs of the owner in order to develop a conceptual design. Because of the complexity of the spaces and their location on a steep slope, the grading design would prove to be the lynch pin which would drive the rest of the project development. With that in mind, Paragon worked closely with the surveyor to get a complete survey of the property including locations and spot elevation for key elements such as an existing well, the edge of the driveway grades and which trees were to be protected. In particular, saving a specimen Japanese maple and three large spruce trees was crucial. The remainder of the overgrown plant material in the back yard was removed.

Because Paragon was brought in early in the project, they were able to adjust the finish floor elevation of the new clubhouse during the design process in order to achieve the goal of making the circulation between the spaces simple and easy to navigate. Paragon sited the building to create a main entertaining space centered around the pool that includes the spa, bar, built-in barbeque and dining area. Setting the building at an angle to the house helped enclose the pool area while providing a sweeping vista from the new clubhouse patio. It also provided the distance needed to make up the grade and create a secondary driveway access to the front of the building, which would be used only occasionally.

Before the project was completed, the town dredged out the seasonal stream at the back of the property leaving the detritus behind. The entire area was later replanted with river birch, dogwoods and a host of native stream bank perennials.

Because of the size of the project, we wanted to divide the outdoor spaces which would serve many different functions depending on the owners?EUR??,,????'??? changing needs. By orienting the clubhouse addition at an angle, we were able to enclose the main pool area and then use changes in grade to create separation between the larger entertaining space and the more private patio and recreation areas.

Circulation around the property was important, and the retaining walls were used to create terraces, which have walks and plantings at each level. It was important to be cautious and not add extra stairs where they were not necessary. Again, simplicity was the key. The changes in grade provide separation between the spaces for a sense of privacy and intimacy in the smaller nooks. The new staircase leads from the front of the house and landing at the bottom of the stairs is the same elevation as the clubhouse patio, forming the upper terrace at three-and-a-half feet above the pool level. A five-foot-wide stair of natural stone, again with treads of at least 14 inches, guides visitors from this level to the front of the house or down to the lower pool level. By not adding unnecessary stairs between spaces the system is simple to understand and negotiate.

Planting areas on the slopes created safety buffers at the top of the walls and added seasonal interest as well.

The changes in grade from the front to the back of the house made circulation a problem. Using cut wall stone, Paragon designed stairs and landings to preserve two specimen trees, while linking the new building to the old and creating separation from the larger entertaining space.

In the spring of 2002, and prior to completion of the project, the village dredged the creek for flood mitigation, and the spoils were left piled along the banks. Kenosha Grounds Care, the landscape contractor, regraded the area, providing positive drainage to the stream, reseeded, installed silt fencing and straw matrix erosion control mat along the stream. The ephemeral nature of the stream allowed the new vegetation to get established prior to heavy rain events that could potentially create washouts and erosion along the stream bank. A small waterfall feature and stone outcroppings at the location of the existing bridge were last minute additions. The entire area was later replanted with river birch, dogwoods, and a host of native stream bank perennials. A walking path of lannon steppers provides a breathtaking nature walk through the area, and the grandchildren have little trouble finding places to explore in the new creek.

Because the owner is nearing retirement, outdoor activities such as gardening and bird watching became important. Paragon provided an orchard, vegetable garden, herb garden, and grape trellises to create a sophisticated rural estate. Stepping stone paths provide opportunities for walking near the newly renovated creek, which has been stabilized with native vegetation, and complimented with a waterfall of native Wisconsin stone.

Creating separation between the garden spaces, yet linking them together with paths, created a sense of place and unity throughout.

The top and bottom cut wall stone has a very refined finished look and the steps are made of slabs of the same stone, which creates a unity of materials throughout the project. The retaining walls were kept to a maximum of three-and-a-half feet creating an intimate, user-friendly scale. Additionally, higher walls would have required larger wall stones, hence adding more cost to the project. The walks are concrete pavers to match the lower pool terrace surrounds. Edging the walks in concrete gives a clean, finished look, and the overall width of four feet not only provides luxury walking but accommodates larger parties.

On the lower pool level, the spa, bar, barbeque and dining spaces are easily accessed. Removing the Japanese water feature allows access from all sides of the pool. It is from this level that the paths to the homes of the owners?EUR??,,????'??? family members converge at a council ring and fire pit area and from there to the creek and nature walking path.

In the end, the owner?EUR??,,????'???s expectations were clearly exceeded. By working closely with the owner, landscape contractor and architect, Paragon Design Group was able to solve a variety of complex grading, erosion and space planning problems with a simple, functional and attractive solution.