Reservoir Street Residence, Cambridge, Mass.

The granite pathway navigates by the purple shades of Hydrangea macrophyliia 'All Summer Beauty' (back left) and Nepeta spp. "Catmint' (right).

This three-story brick gothic revival house at #12 Reservoir Street in Cambridge, Mass. was designed by architects Ware and van Brunt in 1877. In 1983, a wooden house was erected at #14 Reservoir Street, just 24 feet from the front porch of #12! The vacant space is where #14 used to be. The homeowners of the brick home were able to annex the neighboring parcel and raze the house to recapture the open space for a substantial flower garden with pavilions, lawns, fish pond (pictured), swimming pool and spa.

A semi-private upper terrace with a pergola marks the entrance to the garden from the street. from Davis Frame Co. in Claremont, N.H. The pergola, patterned with layers of substantial fir timbers and has Spanish cedar posts, was constructed by Ricci Bros, the general contractor. The seatwalls have New England fieldstone capped by 'Charcoal Black' by Cold Spring Granite.

A simple fountain recessed into the floor flows into a stone runnel. Distinct 'Federal Pink' granite (provided by Granicor) provides a crisp contrast to the natural cleft bluestone paving and the water channel. The tops and sides of the runnels are thermal 'Charcoal Black' granite (Cold Spring Granite); the bottom of the runnel is a polished 'Prairie Green' (near black) by Granicor to provide depth and reflection when the water is not flowing. Detailing allowed the fountain and runnel to appear clean and monolithic. Robert Hanss, Inc., the landscape contractor, installed all of the stone masonry and hardscaping.

The water from the upper runnel disappears at the reflecting pool, then reemerges to continue down the hillside.

Steps lead down from the main entrance and pergola to a simple apron of lawn, a Kentucky bluegrass blend, with a lily pond and fish. This central level terrace is recessed from the street and is the primary setting for small functions. Two garden structures reflect the home's architectural character.

The watercourse carves increasingly deeper below grade, and terminates in a granite spillway. The cascading water into the hidden spa appears to flow from the long descending stone runnel, but is actually coming from a separate system. Curvaceous steel fencing (Somerville Ornamental Iron Works) sets off the circular stone stairways. The wall here is New England fieldstone.

Purpose of the Project
The purpose of this project was the design and implementation of a landscape and garden surrounding a single-family home on Reservoir Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Although the project is ongoing, the majority of the grounds were completed in 2008. For the 0.9-acre site, the construction budget was approximately $2.8 million, with a design budget of $240,000.

The home is an exceptional example of a brick gothic revival house designed by architects Ware and van Brunt in 1877. Originally, the home was on an expansive lot with the front door, porch and fa?????ade graciously facing open space. Subsequently, the land was subdivided, and in 1983 a house was built 24 feet from the front porch! Heavy screening along the property line followed, which further obscured the front fa?????ade. Recently, the owners had an opportunity to annex this neighboring parcel, remove the house and reintroduce open space that historically existed. Their program for the acquired space included areas for entertaining large groups, a substantial flower garden with pavilions and a swimming pool and spa.

Design Intent
The landscape is meant to exhibit a slight contemporary flavor, with a true respect for the historic nature of the architecture. This is carried out by the use of bold, simple forms that at close inspection exhibit an intricacy of detail directly informed by the architecture.

The designer's intent was to accentuate the sloping topography through a series of distinct terraces. A water element was chosen to link several of these levels along the primary axis. A cross axis extends out from the front door, representing a new spacious green apron. Another axis is significant in that it reestablishes a meaningful link from the street to the front door. Adding structure to the space are two small but prominent pavilions for indoor gardening and just sitting and viewing.

The primary axis is marked at the high end by an elaborate pergola with an interesting pattern of members and cross members. Fine detailing on the pergola references the gothic style woodwork of the house.

Flowing Waters
Below the pergola a simple fountain starts the flow of water, which leads to a stone runnel. The water cascades down the center of a series of steps, and to a central reflecting pool and lawn terrace. This terrace is comfortably removed from street activity, making this the prime entertaining level. The pool, which supports aquatic plants and fish, marks the intersection with the cross axis that originates at the front door. It is this central area that has reestablished a fitting front piece to the main fa?????ade of the house. The two flanking garden pavilions frame the space, and recall the architectural detail of the house in materials, colors and styling.

The runnel continues to carve through another series of stone steps and an interim lawn terrace. Flanking the runnel, the south-facing hillside is planted with a rich palette of nearly 60 varieties of perennials and flowering shrubs, a reflection of the client's horticultural interests. Continuing down the hill the water enters a cantilevered stone spillway. A circular stairway descends around a deeply recessed spa that receives the cascade. Nearby, but hidden from view, is the redesigned swimming pool deck. The design recognizes the need for separation of activities, allowing active swimming events to take place while other functions are held in the upper levels of the garden.

Role of the Landscape Architect
The landscape architect, Morgan Wheelock Inc. of Cambridge, served as the lead designer, providing full design services for the landscape from schematic design to construction documentation. The work of the landscape architect included detailed designs for paving, garden walls, water features, railings, lighting and the pergola, as well as planting plans for trees, shrubs and groundcovers. The landscape architect also designed the placement, size and general character for the two garden buildings. A consulting architect provided the detailed design and construction documents for these buildings. Morgan Wheelock was onsite to oversee construction to ensure that detailing requirements were met.

The project team included consulting geotechnical engineers to design soils for the placement of wall footings and water features. The civil engineer designed subsurface drainage. The pool contractors designed the mechanical systems for the water features. The perennial plantings and layout were the responsibility of the client's garden designer.

The general contractor coordinated the demolition, earthwork and overall construction. They also provided the carpentry for all woodwork and garden structures. The landscape contractor was responsible for installing stonewalls, steps, paving, and stonework for the water features. They also provided earthwork, and installed the plantings.

Project Significance
The sloping site and unsuitable structural condition of the soils were challenges. These were overcome through the careful engineering of soils and garden walls. The design of granite steps and paving had to be meticulously detailed to meet the exacting requirements of each water feature. Though designed to appear as one continuous feature, the water components of the garden are actually three systems, separating the requirements of the runnel, the central pool, and the spa below.

Reinstating open space, in the interest of enhancing a noteworthy piece of architecture, can be considered a commendable undertaking. Removing a house in the interest of building a garden reinforces the relevance of open space design. The clients often stage the garden as a site for neighborhood, business and nonprofit events, letting the public see the qualities of a professionally designed landscape.

Reservoir Street Residence Project Team

Landscape Architecture
Morgan Wheelock Inc., Cambridge

Project Landscape Architects
Morgan Wheelock, FASLA, President
Christopher Dindal, ASLA, Senior Associate
Robert Mooney, Associate

Architect for Garden House
Thomas R. Huth Architects, Newton, Mass.

Civil Engineer
H.W. Moore Associates Inc., Boston

Geotechnical Engineer
McPhail Associates, Inc., Cambridge

Perennial Garden Designer
Margaret Cotter, Cohasset, Mass.

General Contractor/Carpenter
Ricci Bros. Construction Inc., Cambridge

Landscape Contractor/ Masonry
Robert Hanss Inc. Landscape Construction
Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Pool/ Fountain Contractors
South Shore Gunite, Chelmsford, Mass.

Aquatic Life
The Fish Guy, Framingham, Mass.