With spectacular river and marsh views to the south and west, and working farms to the north and east, the local agricultural vernacular and authentic southern New England coastal lifestyle merge on this nearly one-acre parcel. A modest 1949 ranch house was sited to take advantage of the glittering coastal views at the mouth of the Westport River. In the 1960’s an elevated pool was added within the sensitive coastal buffer. Overgrown foundation plantings and vast areas of mown lawn dominated the property. A weathered outcrop of ledge punctuates the northwest corner of the lot, where wind-blown cedars cling.

New owners set out to transform the property into a three-season, ecologically-aware retreat for family and friends to enjoy. When they decided it was time to redo their leaking, nearly dilapidated pool, they saw it as an excellent opportunity to also expand their screened porch, which had over time become the heart of gatherings at “Camp Brown.” In addition to a building a new pool garden and porch, our clients sought a new entry and arrival sequence to the property, as well as a fire pit, and other areas to casually observe the river and marsh.

With a shared passion for encouraging pollinators, and appreciation for the local rural vernacular, the resulting garden is rugged, yet soft. The selection of materials authentically celebrates the merging of farm with coast. Reclaimed, weathered stone slabs form a new walkway from the crushed shell driveway to the house and pool garden. Indigenous and drought-resistant perennials spill over hardscape edges to create vibrant, multi-seasonal displays. A board-form concrete retaining wall smothered with colonies of bayberry and beach plum elevates the new pool garden to overlook mesmerizing views of the river and marsh.

A leaking, vinyl-liner pool has been replaced with a top-of-the-line energy efficient gunite pool. Solar panels were added to the garage roof to offset the heating needs for the new structure. A continuous sun bench runs the entire length of the pool and faces west, towards the river and marsh. Two existing sheds are repurposed to house pool equipment and an outdoor shower, while storage for pool toys was built beneath the expanded screen porch. An ugly Astroturf patio is replaced with a beautiful new granite terrace. Boulders unearthed during excavation were retained for use in walkways as a well as for a unique seating element in the garden. Stepping stones meander through the lawn and lead to a reclaimed granite fire pit terrace scribed to the existing ledge outcrop.

The new landscape is composed almost entirely of robust, drought resistant natives that can withstand intense periods of salt, wind, and sun exposure, all while providing excellent food and habitat resources for local wildlife. The beach plum colony yields generous bounties of fruit which the owner now harvests to make jam. Hummingbird feeders, lovingly placed throughout the gardens, are regularly swarmed by hungry visitors. Activity lawns are over-seeded with microclover, and intentionally left unirrigated. Herbicides and pesticides are strictly forbidden, and the property is maintained organically to prevent any chemical intrusion into the surrounding watershed.

The work completed at this property successfully navigates important State and Federal protective regulations and serves as a model for similarly-scaled residential projects in the region. Improving water quality and consciously limiting resource consumption guided improvements. Vast areas of lawn within a sensitive buffer zone are replaced with valuable habitat. The submitting firm has helped this family establish meaningful connections to their property for themselves, and their guests, by creating an outdoor-focused lifestyle that fully embraces the context of the Westport River.

Collaborators: R.P. Marzilli Landscape Construction, Select Horticulture, New England Woodworkers

2018 International Gold Award from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers