On this 40-acre site left mainly in agriculture, the client asked for a pool and gardens on the western slope of the house for her growing family. A portion of the hill needed to remain open for sledding, and mediating space was needed between the house and the large expanse of hayfield below. The new trees, essential for shade and to provide a sense of scale, had to withstand the windy conditions and be specimens in their own right.

The layers of planting around the pool, a combination of deciduous and evergreen native shrubs, provide a middle ground view and settle the house into the surrounding landscape. Besides protecting the pool area from strong winds (and thus lengthening the season the pool can be used), they add privacy by defining an outdoor room and conceal the view of the pool from the house in the winter. A pergola between the house and the pool is anticipated and will provide needed outdoor social space while allowing a framed view of the landscape from within the house.