Estate & Private Residential Design

2004 Georgia ASLA Honor Award

“A Georgian Estate”

For his new home, the homeowner sought an older established subdivision.  The program elements required a large piece of property and envisioned a secluded estate-like setting.  A lot with an existing home and an additional vacant lot were selected for the home site. The existing home was removed and the (2) properties were combined to create a 4-acre lot.

The philosophy and intent of the site development and landscape architecture program was envisioned to support a home designed in the Georgian Architectural style preferred by the homeowner.  Together, the principals at Land Plus and the homeowner’s architect created a property that is a reflection of a traditional Buckhead estate property with sweeping lawns and elegant driveway creating a strong sense of arrival to a “secluded, special place.”
 
The scope and role of Land Plus included developing the site plan and teaming with the architect to develop the best arrangement for an elaborate family motor court area featuring a 4-car detached garage in conjunction with an attached 3-car garage.  The homeowner required additional parking in the motor court for up to (7) cars as well as accommodating the turning radius required for limousines and delivery vehicles. In addition, the program requirements included a lap pool with automatic pool cover, spa, garden pavilion, and water element or fountain.  Land Plus assimilated these requirements to create the detailed site development plan, which included the following features:

• Boxwood hedges were used to line the front walkway from the guest parking area creating a strong visual connection to the front of the home.
  
  
• A garden pavilion was set at an upper garden level along with a spa and waterfall to provide a backdrop for the 50-foot long lap pool centered on the rear sunroom of the home. The pavilion also reveals views to the rear parterre garden and is surrounded by clipped boxwood hedges and perennial beds.
  
  
• A pool area that is depressed from the majority of the rear yard and creates multi-level garden areas.
  

Land Plus used the homesite’s topographic challenges to the advantage of the homeowner.  The homesite area was lowered ten feet to allow for a manageable slope at the guest parking and turnaround areas and to keep the approach drive at less than 12%.  This allowed for a multi-level rear yard putting the pool 10’ below the grade of an existing roadway to the rear of the property and enhancing the privacy of the rear yard.  Large 20’-25’ Hemlocks were installed among the existing pine forest to the rear and sides of the property to complete the privacy requirement by the homeowner. Construction cost for all site development and landscaping for the home was $825,000.00