a modern contemporary home honors its rich site history
—project description—
This low-lying residence sits nestled atop a steep coastal bank and offers spectacular rocky coastline views. Numerous granite artifacts from local quarrying operations remain on site, recalling days long gone by. This rich history, coupled with the client’s desire to re-invigorate a decades-old concept for a carport, provided ample inspiration for this unique landscape architectural restoration and re-imagination.
Granite was quarried locally to construct retaining walls and the new carport. A massive granite post supports the carport roof and mimics elements of the architecture. Steps are fashioned from re-claimed Cape Granite bridge blocks and walkway surfaces are paved with re-claimed granite curb stones. Impressive, custom, carport doors have a mass and void relationship with an adjacent Western Red cedar screen between house and parking. The screen and deconstructed roof framing create ever-changing light and shadow effects on the ground which are reinforced at night with landscape lighting. A custom granite and Western Red cedar bench provides a contemplative space at the front entry amidst the soothing sound of a water feature. Low-impact construction techniques and native plant masses were employed to stabilize the coastal bank and to repair a stone staircase providing access to the shore.
LOCATION: Rockport, MA