Private Residence
Northampton, Massachusetts

2005

Prior to involvement with this six-acre property, the new residence sat atop a barren windswept hill with little sense of welcome. DDA's design uses a grove of River Birches and native hillside plantings to tie the house to the surrounding woodlands while buffering northwest winds and retaining soil. A fieldstone seating/retaining wall extends in an arc along the front of the house, following the original contours of the site, while framing the narrow front lawn to create a graceful terraced entryway. Visitors have a clear sense of arrival through a stone gateway leading to a generous stone walkway surrounded by perennial gardens. A stone terrace near the front door provides a space for seating and allows the owners to enjoy views overlooking distant hills, as never before.