New England Countryside Estate in the 1890s Style

By Vincent Rico, RLA and Editor, Stephen Kelly

The existing elevation for the new 8,000 sq. ft. plus home in Northborough, Mass. was lowered more than four feet to nestle it into the slope and offer connections and transitions down into the park-like landscape setting. The tiered lawns are interspersed with plantings of blue Pacific juniper, annuals, hosta and salvia.

The client envisioned an estate reminiscent of the 1890s New England countryside with a house of a size and scale responding to the park-like character of this Northborough, Mass. site.

Rico Associates was commissioned as project landscape architect to develop a landscape master plan and construction documents for this private residential client. The program included renovation design for existing portions of the site, plus a completely new design for the major areas of the site, including placement of the proposed house; relocating site access via a bridge crossing; new main driveway; turnaround and guest parking; service drive; fencing, gates and screening; walks, steps and terraces; walls and piers; garden structures; lighting; irrigation system; grading and drainage modifications; extensive transplanting; lawns; new plantings; site furnishings and ornamentation.

The original driveway was short and afforded little views of the landscape. The landscape architect designed a longer, dramatic entrance to display the flowering cherry, San Jose and blue Pacific juniper, Japanese tree lilac and holly, golden mop cypress, spreading yew, rhododendron, azalea and annuals.

This previously developed 14-acre property had been neglected for many years after the original house was razed. Although the promise of a spectacular landscape existed, the challenges it posed in its current state were numerous.

The driveway entrance incorporates a hydraulic gate and a vehicular bridge over the existing brook that connects the upper and lower ponds. Geotechnical and structural engineering services were consulted for the bridge. Flora along here are Big Daddy hostas, impatiens, petunias, scintillation and Cunningham white rhododendrons, Karen and Mother’s Day azaleas, sea green juniper, tickseed, pin cushion flowers and dianthus.

Site Challenges

The footprint of the proposed house was four times larger than the original, and the physical limits of the existing water pond, ledge, setbacks and elevations posed tremendous challenges to the entire design team to make this structure fit comfortably into the site.

The “arrival” experience onto the site was abrupt and lacked any level of drama.

An old irrigation system was not operable. The pond had become stagnant. Numerous shrubs and trees had become overgrown, misshapen and in various stages of decline.

The 14-acre property had been neglected for many years after the original house was razed, although the promise of a spectacular landscape existed. It was realized here with plantings of juniper, Meidiland and pink flower carpet roses, yews, grasses and daylilies. Large cypress and birch trees are in keeping with the scale of the home.

Creating the building and access envelope and elevations to visually and physically “accept” this estate house became my biggest challenge. To integrate the house into the site, coordinate interior views with exterior amenities and visually create a sense of belonging, the existing elevation at the proposed building footprint was lowered more than four feet to nestle the over 8,000 sq. ft. house into the slope and provide physical and visual connections and transitions down and into a park-like landscape setting. Providing the necessary space to accommodate vehicle access, parking, and turnaround required extensive transplanting along with creation of a temporary holding nursery and blasting and removal of existing ledge, which was salvaged and reused in building extensive retaining walls.

The old landscape included paths and steps to join the upper plateau to the lower area. The design intent was to retain as much of these connections as possible. Surfaces and steps were improved and added. The steps are rock-faced New England grey granite, reclaimed from local sources.

The original driveway was of short length and brought visitors to the front of the house with the back facing the expansive views of the land. You never experienced the landscape views upon arrival. My intent was to allow the visitor to have a longer, dramatic arrival experience, taking in the beauty of the site and culminating with the impressive brick estate house nestled at the high point of the site.

To achieve this goal, a vehicular bridge was a necessary part of the driveway, crossing over the existing brook that connected the upper and lower ponds. Geotechnical and structural engineering services were consulted and various bridge design concepts explored to complement and harmonize with the architecture of the house.

The old gazebo made way for a Chinese-styled footbridge and new gazebo located at the end of a small peninsula. Glassed and heated in the winter months, the gazebo is a warm and inviting retreat for skaters on the pond. The pond is the irrigation source for the site. Consultants redesigned the irrigation system and pump house. A large willow drapes one edge of the pond. Cypress, birch and dwarf Alberta spruce add variety around the pond.

The architect and landscape architect collaborated on the look of the terraces and outdoor dining spaces. Layout and coordination responded to the magnificent site views and water features.

Upper falls, lower falls, a fast running stream and lower ponds were all retained, protected, improved and framed and integrated into the renovated landscape, here with a variety of daylilies.

Water Elements

Water played a significant role in the overall setting, character and maintenance of the site. The sight and sound of the water was integrated into the house design and landscape, creating interest and variety throughout the landscape. Upper falls, lower falls, a fast running stream and lower ponds were all retained, protected, improved and framed and integrated into the renovated landscape. The upper pond elevation was coordinated with the interior floor elevation of the master bedroom to give views of the water and bring the sound of the adjacent falls into the house. The large lower pond lies at the base of the slope, upon which the house was built. Improved aeration was introduced to the pond to improve its esthetics and the quality of water.

An old gazebo was replaced with a Chinese-influenced footbridge and structure located at the end of a small peninsula. Glassed and heated during winter months, the gazebo offers a warm and inviting retreat for skaters on the pond. In addition, the pond water provided the irrigation source for the site. Our subconsultant irrigation designers provided a completely redesigned irrigation system and pump house.

The tiered terraces of random cut, natural cleft bluestone (2 x 2 ft.) present an attractive complement to the architectural brick. The seat wall rock (left) was salvaged from the removal of the site’s ledge and capped with bluestone.

The Views from the Terraces

Two large outdoor terraces were built immediately off the house, providing dining and entertaining space. In addition, a small stone circular overlook terrace was created with the feeling of being cantilevered over the upper falls and stream. The terraces and adjoining overlook provide the start to a pedestrian journey from the house to the lower landscape via winding paths, hidden stairways and unexpected intimate seating areas. The old landscape included several paths and steps to join the upper plateau to the lower area. The design intent was to retain as much of these connections as possible and to expand on them. Surfaces and steps were improved and added.

Adjacent to the dining patio is a more intimate retreat illuminated for nighttime enjoyment with antique style luminaries atop the stone piers. Pine, euonymus, armeria, astilbe, ferns, lamb’s ear and hostas surround the patio.

Tennis, Nobody?

A deteriorated tennis court provided the perfect location for a target green with its tee set at the upper plateau near to the house.

Expansive rolling lawns and thoughtfully placed trees and shrub massings created a landscape full of year-round interest. These plantings and their placement create a sense of anticipation, frame views, buffer the surrounding streets, add color, shade and fragrance and help define and enrich the designed outdoor rooms.

The elevations of the topography were viewed as opportunities to add drama, define spaces, enhance view points and create an overall sense of interest on a large scale.

 

• Landscape Architect: Vincent Rico Associates, Shrewsbury, Mass.
• Architect: Chip Webster & Associates, Nantucket, Mass.
• Engineering: Seltec Engineering, Northborough, Mass.
• Irrigation Consultant: Irrigation Consulting, Inc., Pepperell, Mass.
• Builder: Picardi Construction, Southborough, Mass.
• Geotech Engineer: Richard Weber Associates, Wellesley, Mass.
• Sitework Contractor: Birchwood Development, Northborough, Mass.