River Living On A Curve

By Angela D. Barglof, Mid Atlantic Enterprise, Inc.

The fence and rail system is custom-made black powder coated aluminum by Greendale Railing Co. Inc., set to match the home?EUR??,,????'???s existing metal work. The 40 feet of fence around the fire pit fence is 14 inches tall, and curves back to a 7-degree batter to allow for comfortable seating. More than 140 feet of fencing was cored 18 inches into the block, and then grouted.

''Not a single straight line in the design.'' The owners of this property, off the Piankatank River in Gloucester, Virginia, made their wishes for their outdoor living space clear. ?EUR??,,????'??While the homeowners said this with a half-joking tone,?EUR??,,????'?? said Adam Heath, Design Director at Mid Atlantic Enterprise, Inc., ''I saw it as a challenge that I knew our team could achieve.''

The curvilinear walls were an installation challenge, met by using an Edco Hardscape Saw to cut each block, and retaining wall block adhesive to secure the caps of each wall in place. The 1,100 square feet of pavers are comprised of Hanson Hardscapes Forest Hill Cobble, and Trevia by Unilock. The walls and steps were built with more than 300 tons of 57 stone, and 2,500 square feet of Allan Block Ashlar Blend in Sandstone.

The clients met with Mid Atlantic, a design/build firm specializing in high-end custom outdoor living spaces based in Williamsburg, Virgina, because they wanted to replace their failing wood retaining wall with a new segmental retaining wall.

''After viewing the picturesque site, we knew we could give the clients something far greater than just a simple wall, which would allow them to truly take advantage of what their property has to offer,'' said Heath. From the very start, the team knew that fencing and railings would be a large part of this project due to the elevations, and saw an opportunity to tie what became 140 feet of new fencing to the property's existing metal work.

''After viewing the picturesque site, we knew we could give the clients something far greater than just a simple wall, which would allow them to truly take advantage of what their property has to offer,'' said Heath. From the very start, the team knew that fencing and railings would be a large part of this project due to the elevations, and saw an opportunity to tie what became 140 feet of new fencing to the property's existing metal work.

A CAT 303.5 CCR mini excavator and a CAT 289C track loader were used to excavate a 10-foot shelf, and a 12,500-pound compactor compressed the sub-grade to 95 percent proctor for the walls and paver base areas. Woven geotextile was installed, footings were built with 57 stone, and 6-inch drain tile was placed throughout. Construction of the walls followed.

Holding to the ''no straight line'' theme, the team created a fence and railing system that flowed with the hardscape and had little to no straight runs. The fence around the fire pit area was a highlight, due to a bit of extra prep work. ''Before it was fabricated, we sat both homeowners down and took measurements of their most comfortable seated positions,'' said Heath. ''This allowed us to create a space truly meant for relaxation.''

The fire pit area was constructed to be permeable, while the rest of the paver surface was treated using Alliance Gator XP Polymeric Sand. RH Peterson Campfyre components were used to create the natural gas burning fire pit.

Building curved walls and adding staircases was a unique challenge. Both were constructed with roughly 2,000 square feet of Allan Block's Ashlar Blend, a retaining wall block not typically used in such dramatically curved designs. This made for a tedious and time consuming installation, but the final product was worth every second. Sean O'Grady with Nitterhouse Masonry Products, LLC, the local manufacturer of Allan Block, said that this was the most difficult project he had seen using this block. The layout of the space allows for multiple entrance and exit points, creating oases of the fire pit and dining area. The grand staircase between the two main enter- tainment areas, built from 150 square feet of block, was added late in the process, but turned out to be a focal point of the space. ''It allowed for easy access to the rear yard, while appealing to the clients' love of dramatic southern entrances,'' Heath said. The arbor that marked an end-point in the clients' original yard was repurposed into a transition zone, inviting guests into the outdoor living space below. To illuminate the space in the evenings, and to provide for the safety of the clients and their guests, FX CustodeGradino wall lights were strategically placed throughout the area. The existing weeping cherry was used as an anchor to blend the hardscape with the surrounding property, and dwarf gardenias were added to the center planter bed for aromatic appeal. ''When you have 1,100 square feet of pavers on multiple levels,'' Heath said, ''it's absolutely imperative to bring green space into play.'' The fire pit area was constructed from the same Ashlar Blend block as the walls. Mid Atlantic Enterprise had a plumbing and gas fitter feed the fire pit with natural gas, and a timer-controlled RH Peterson Outdoor Campfyre Burner was installed to control the fire. To create a look of burning wood, Outdoor Campfyre Logs and Lava Granules were added to the fire pit. This created a relaxing campfire environment without the ashes and smoke that accompany natural burning fire pits.

Along with the ''no straight lines'' request, the homeowners wanted to maintain the natural beauty of the property. Rather than taking one's eye away from the beautiful waterfront, the revamped outdoor spaces create a seamless transition from the steps of the backdoor to the backyard.