Picture's of project -
This project was the ultimate in recycling!  The owners had a 2 ½ acre lot and then purchased a home "to be moved" from its original lot.  The home was a walkout rambler, originally built in 1962, in an older suburb 18 miles from their new lot.  Before the move, the designer helped define the orientation of the house on the new property.   It was crucial that the large windows, salvaged from the walkout level, would face south and capture views of the Minnesota River Valley.  Privacy from neighboring houses, space for a large "playing" lawn, and environmentally-friendly design were also considered in the placement.
 
The home's primary heating/cooling source was to be a Geo-source Heat Pump.  This would discharge a significant amount of water, necessitating a storage pond.  Gutters, on the back of the house, empty into drain tile that also discharges into the pond.   The pond looks quite natural, having been designed in the lowest area of the property and planted with water Iris and water plants. Wildflowers visually hide the pond from the road and the owners stocked the pond with Bass!  By design, the underground irrigation system uses the pond water for watering the lawn and gardens.  Soil from the 12 foot deep pond excavation was reused to grade the driveway entrance up to the garage level.
 
By placing the home near the north edge of the lot, the lawn area on the south is roomy enough for soccer, football and baseball games!  In order to keep the walkout level of the house facing south, the front entrance was positioned towards the rear of the lot.  This posed a challenge because it was on the unseen side of home, even when at the top of the entry drive.  A pergola was designed and installed on the north side of the entry drive, serving as a focal point that invites guests inward.  The walkway is constructed of exposed aggregate concrete, inlayed with a Crab Orchard stone edge.  (The same type of stone used on the interior entrance floor.)  A Hawthorn tree and brightly colored flowers, planted at the end of the sight line of long the walkway, are focal points to keep eyes looking forward.  As well, the strong horizontal line of the alpine currant hedge points toward the front door.  Over 100 Spruce and Fir trees, planted along the north property line, shelter this entrance and screen views into/from the adjacent lot.
 
Included in the front entry design is a patio for entertaining.  It is an extension of the entry walkway.  This "outdoor room" is just outside a porch-like room with sliding doors and is easily accessed from the kitchen.  It's perfect for grilling!  The playground and vegetable garden are also near this area. 
 
For the secondary access (to the walkout yard level), two boulder wall terraces were designed with a series of Chilton steps wrapping around to a Chilton flagstone patio.  The planting areas between the retaining walls are packed with perennials to provide all-season interest and attract birds and butterflies.
 
The long driveway is lined with Honeylocust that provide soft shade and vertical interest.  Over 200 large trees were spaded around the site, and over 1 ½ acres of wildflowers were planted to create privacy from every side, to provide habitat for wildlife and to create a buffer for absorption of runoff.
 
Low-voltage night lighting around the home is designed to provide safe access with dramatic effects and low energy use. The driveway "moon lighting" was controlled by a motion detector with the purpose of providing security when motion is detected yet not causing light pollution by being on at all times.
 
This project has been implemented over a series of years and still has one more phase to go, the deck and screened gazebo!