Lake Washington Residence
Set on a steep slope overlooking Lake Washington, this
project presented the challenge of creating a series of garden
spaces that provide opportunities to enjoy the hillside and
explore the changing views as visitors descend toward the
water. While the severity of the slope allows for striking
territorial views, it also causes concern for stability and
erosion control. To address this while avoiding over-engineering
the site, a series of walls and landings divide the massive
expanse of exposed hillside into an arrangement of cascading
terraces.
In addition, the planting design contributed to erosion control through layering
broad drifts of hardy and aggressive groundcovers and shrubs. The scale of the
drifts is gauged on the larger scale of the site and the views back into the
property from the lake. The variety of exposures on the hillside allow for a
broad palette of plants, from hydrangea, astilbe, nandina, and vinca to lavender,
artemisia, rosemary, cotinus, and other sun-loving plants.
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