This Northwest DC Garden was inspired by both the English tradition of “borrowed” landscape and the collaborative relationship between Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. This garden’s renovation project became necessary due to influences beyond its confines. The British Ambassador’s Residence and gardens lie to the north of the client’s formerly quiet rear garden. In preparation for a royal visit, the grounds of the Ambassador’s residence underwent several modifications. Part of the modifications included the removal of a bamboo grove that once screened and softened the traffic noise and movement associated with Massachusetts Avenue. With the bamboo removed, the client’s rear garden became unlivable. The landscape architect was called to explore design alternatives for a garden that would help to mitigate the problem.

The landscape architect designed a garden that features water as an audible and visual centerpiece. In addition, the landscape architect designed a conservatory and greenhouse serving as a garden destination away from the house. Together, these features mitigate the noise and screening issues while transforming the rear garden into a bucolic urban oasis.

A sense of scale and enclosure is achieved through the preservation of existing mature trees and shrubs along with the introduction of a clipped hedge border. The water feature is submerged below the terrace and separated by four gracious steps on all sides. The carefully detailed fountain integrates water and plant material in the spirit of a Lutyens and Jekyll collaboration.

  • 2012 Merit Award, American Society of Landscape Architects, Potomac Chapter
  • 2019 The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art John Russel Pope Award

This Northwest DC Garden was inspired by both the English tradition of “borrowed” landscape and the collaborative relationship between Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. This garden’s renovation project became necessary due to influences beyond its confines. The British Ambassador’s Residence and gardens lie to the north of the client’s formerly quiet rear garden. In preparation for a royal visit, the grounds of the Ambassador’s residence underwent several modifications. Part of the modifications included the removal of a bamboo grove that once screened and softened the traffic noise and movement associated with Massachusetts Avenue. With the bamboo removed, the client’s rear garden became unlivable. The landscape architect was called to explore design alternatives for a garden that would help to mitigate the problem.

The landscape architect designed a garden that features water as an audible and visual centerpiece. In addition, the landscape architect designed a conservatory and greenhouse serving as a garden destination away from the house. Together, these features mitigate the noise and screening issues while transforming the rear garden into a bucolic urban oasis.

A sense of scale and enclosure is achieved through the preservation of existing mature trees and shrubs along with the introduction of a clipped hedge border. The water feature is submerged below the terrace and separated by four gracious steps on all sides. The carefully detailed fountain integrates water and plant material in the spirit of a Lutyens and Jekyll collaboration.

  • 2012 Merit Award, American Society of Landscape Architects, Potomac Chapter
  • 2019 The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art John Russel Pope Award