In 1960, Boston architect Jack Sarness thoughtfully designed this mid-century-modern home around a sculptural outcrop of exposed native rock along the banks of the historic Mystic River. The ledge is celebrated indoors and out as dramatic floor to ceiling windows capture and frame images of the stone. A preservation-focused masterplan merges restored masonry features with new plantings that respond to the realities of present-day, urban living. At one end of the garden, a scattered arrangement of existing deciduous trees spill down a west-facing slope contained by a rugged fieldstone wall. A fence crafted from white cedar horizontal rails complements the angular roof of the house and provides privacy along one edge of the property. Roof water percolates into a bed of rounded river stones, and a vintage flagstone patio hosts a collection of moveable, seasonal planters. An open lawn is bordered by planting beds filled with a vast collection of plants with wild textures, patterns, and colors.

In 2008, the property was nearly destroyed by a devastating fire. Without the owners’ commitment, the house’s powerful and authentic character would have been lost. Their passion guided a restoration process that preserves the integrity of a rare mid-century modern home in Boston.