Contemporary Home Overlooking the Potomac River
When we met with the owners of this home, they presented us with a book illustrating the work of Greene and Greene (architectural predecessors to Frank Lloyd Wright.) They told us that they wanted the work in that book to be the inspiration for their landscape. Excited about this new creative opportunity, we brought the book back to the office and pored over it. The Greene and Greene philosophy is captured in this quote: “The Style of the house should be as far as possible determined by four conditions: First, Climate; Second, Environment; Third, Kinds of materials available; Fourth, Habits and tastes—i.e., life of the owner” (C. S. Greene).
We built the landscape with those elements in mind. The patios are proportional to the house and suitable for their intended use. We used an eclectic blend of reclaimed materials to create the elegantly simple outdoor living spaces that surround this home.
When we installed the plant material, we re-used and transplanted as much of the existing plant material as possible. All the mature trees were left untouched. For new plants, we chose from native cultivars that would transition smoothly to the wooded space surrounding the home. The house sits on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River. Greene and Greene referred to such homes as ultimate bungalows.
O'Grady's Landscape
Greenery