— BriefProject · 2024

A contemporary residential landscape designed as a seamless extension of the home — balancing open recreation, outdoor living, and soft layered planting.

The geometry of the pool and expansive stone terrace creates a strong architectural framework, while surrounding planting beds soften the edges and connect the space to the mature tree canopy beyond.

The design carefully organizes multiple outdoor experiences: a generous entertainment patio, covered veranda, elevated timber deck, and open lawn for flexible family use. A restrained material palette of natural stone, timber, and gravel complements the warm tones of the residence and reinforces a calm, cohesive aesthetic.

— At a glance

Project details.

Type
Private Residence
Studio
Glengate Company
Role
Sr Landscape Designer
Guide
Josh Wooldridge
Location
Darien, CT
Year
2024–2025 — Designing, Permitting & Construction
Status
Completed
— On the terrace

Bluestone, layered. Sawn bluestone runs the terrace, exfoliated bluestone at the pool surround. A single material, two finishes.

Tight mortar joints throughout, borrowed from the architect's facade.

— Planting

Layered planting with shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials introduces seasonal texture and movement while maintaining clear sightlines across the property. Existing mature trees provide scale, privacy, and a sense of permanence, grounding the contemporary intervention within the surrounding landscape.

— Few from the planting palette
Shrubs
  • Bottlebrush Buckeye Aesculus parviflora
  • Upright Boxwood Buxus fastigiata
  • Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
  • Schip Laurel Prunus laurocerasus
  • Bluebeard Caryopteris 'Dark Night'
  • Royal Purple Smokebush Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
  • Endless Summer Hydrangea Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'
  • Bobo Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo'
  • Fire & Ice Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata 'Fire & Ice'
Perennials
  • Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium dubium 'Baby Joe'
  • Lady's Mantle Alchemilla mollis
  • Pink Gaura Gaura lindheimeri
  • Rozanne Geranium Geranium 'Rozanne'
  • Tall Verbena Verbena bonariensis
  • Golden Ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello'
  • Siberian Iris Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother'
  • Siberian Bugloss Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Grasses
  • Red Switchgrass Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
  • Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
— Contract Plan
Curtis Residence — Contract Plan P-1.2

P-1.2 — Contract Plan  ·  Glengate Company

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