Blast Site

The site of this duplex cottage was created by blasting significant ledge. The remaining slope was prone to erosion and there was limited usable outdoor space. The design pushed the slope away from the house, retained by new stone retaining walls. Some walls were built with traditional footings, others were pinned and/or scribed to exposed ledge. Planting pockets with deeper soil drastically increased the site’s capacity for more diverse vegetation. A mostly native plant palette was organized into distinct microclimatic zones, focusing on sun, slope, and moisture. Stepstone paths are designed to direct views and slow strolls—increasing the chances of observing flora and fauna in landscape’s many niches.