Dover Mid-Century Modern Landscape

IDDLA’s Mid-Century Modern Landscape features an architectural gem of a home perched on a rolling hilltop overlooking a pond and woodlands. We are working at both the site-scale and residence-scale, simultaneously stewarding the ecologically-important 4.8-acre property and re-envisioning the landscape experience proximal to the house.

Around the house we've developed a series of outdoor spaces that flow seamlessly from the indoors, and compliment the mid-century architecture. We opened up the front entry -eliminating shrubs that were obscuring the scale and form of the mid-century posts- reset the bluestone patio, and added plantings including shade-loving climbing hydrangeas & sculptural serviceberries & ferns. On the pond-side of the house we inserted a terraced, pea-gravel path to improve the flow of circulation. This bluestone-edged walkway connects the covered dining porch with the intimate, lawn-jointed bluestone patio and the cantilevered fire pit lounging deck, maximizing opportunities for entertaining and indoor-outdoor living. Xeriscape plantings along the walkway include lavender, thyme and sedum. To the side of the house, just off the kitchen door, we’ve added a second, smaller deck for grilling featuring a built-in storage bench.

At the site scale we’ve initiated several ecological restoration projects -including areas we are transitioning from lawn to woodland, and from lawn to meadow- to improve habitat and plant diversity. Most new plantings throughout the project are native.

Photos by Sabine Nordberg