This NW. Washington, D.C. garden is located on one of Georgetown’s most historic properties. The property traces back to 1785 as part of a single parcel carved out of the 795-acre estate once known as the “Rock of Dumbarton.” There was little change to the property and the circa 1868 house until the I 970’s renovation by architect Hugh Jacobsen.

During a subsequent 2011 house renovation with architects Mark McInturff and Olivia Demetriou, FAIA, the current owners, ardent art collectors, hired the landscape architect to completely redesign the garden and grounds. The goal of the new garden design was to edit and redefine the established garden to reflect the changes of the new contemporary aesthetic resulting from the renovation. The design employs simple planes and clean lines, juxtaposed with soft natural edges, to create calm spaces. The landscape architect carefully selected existing elements with merit and made delicate but deliberate intrusions to unify the house and garden.

In 2015, the client approached the landscape architect to site two sculptures. Again, careful consideration was given to the composition of the pieces within the garden. The quiet insertion of the sculptures punctuates the broad gestures of the garden framework reinforcing the energy and tension of the space.

  • 2016 Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects, Potomac Chapter