CHESTNUT HILL GARDEN
CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS
Nestled on a hillside in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts an unassuming midcentury ranch was in desperate need of renovations, inside and out. The steeply sloping site was engulfed in invasive Japanese knotweed and Norway maples, and frequently inundated with stormwater runoff from uphill parcels. The visionary clients saw inherent possibilities in the property, looking to transform an unruly tangle of invasives into a suburban oasis. The clients had very simple program requests: a pool, sitting areas, and a means of exploring and experiencing the dramatic views from the highest points of the property. Three overarching goals guided the design process: utilizing the site’s unique topography to define gathering spaces, thoughtfully integrating stormwater management, and enhancing seasonal interest while restoring habitat value with native species.
The once overgrown foundation plantings of the front yard are replaced by a welcoming entry sequence, softened by lush plantings. As the garden’s central feature, the pool was situated on an intermediate terrace several feet higher than the finish floor elevation of the house. Due to the slight grade change, the glassy new addition of the house looks out onto a sloped pollinator garden, forging an immediate connection between the garden and home’s interiors. Outdoor living and dining terraces surround the modern addition, complementing the interior floorplan. Rising beyond the pool, a hillside smothered with lush native shrubs and groundcovers climbs precipitously into the tree canopy, forming an ever-changing backdrop to the garden in all seasons. The hillside is now crisscrossed by a small network of paths leading to quiet destinations—a hammock and two small observation platforms. A climb up rambling stone steps and winding paths is rewarded with sweeping views across the reservoir and city skyline beyond. Where once a monoculture of knotweed offered little habitat value, a diverse tapestry of groundcovers has colonized the hillside, providing soil stabilization on the steep slopes.
Selective thinning of the Norway maple trees, allowed the introduction of drifting understory colonies of native shrubs. Situated halfway up a hillside neighborhood, the property is constantly inundated by stormwater runoff from developed parcels further uphill; this runoff flows directly downhill into the reservoir. Stormwater management therefore became a key contributor to the sustainability of the garden. With more than forty feet of grade changes from front to back, a stone retaining wall cuts a terrace into the rear slope. An interceptor trench behind the wall couples with a system of subtle vegetated swales to convey water into a new infiltration system. A 60% reduction in lawn area further reduces the risk of nutrient-laden runoff, and expanded planting beds help slow, capture, and infiltrate stormwater that had previously run offsite.
Collaborators: Walker Architects, Cambridgeport Construction, Phil Mastroianni Landscape Construction, Custom Quality Pools, Jane Messinger Photography
2022 International Silver Award from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers
2022 Residential Merit Award from the Boston Society Landscape Architects