Aerial view of a modern house surrounded by trees and fields, with a wooden dock extending into a body of water at sunset.
Modern architectural house with black and brick exterior, large windows, and a suspended section connecting two parts, surrounded by greenery and a pathway under a blue sky.
Modern black wooden building with large windows, white stone steps, and green shrubbery in the front yard.
Aerial view of large rectangular concrete slabs separated by narrow grass strips, surrounded by green grass and various plants.
View of a lush green garden pathway with trees and bushes, leading to a modern house in the background.
Modern building with dark exterior above lush green trees and plants in the garden.
Modern building corridor with glass railing, trees, and a person walking away from camera.
Modern home exterior with a balcony surrounded by lush green shrubs and trees.
View from a covered patio over a backyard with a ping pong table, grass, stepping stones, trees, and distant houses in a rural setting.
Modern house with large glass windows and an outdoor pool at dusk, illuminated interior lighting, contemporary outdoor seating, and landscaped garden.
Modern black building with large windows, stairs leading to entrance, outdoor basketball court with children playing, landscaped yard with grass, trees, and bushes, under a partly cloudy sky.

Set on four acres of former agricultural land, this proposed residence required extensive environmental remediation before design could begin. Working with the architectural firm A+I, LaGuardia Design Group developed a landscape plan that restored the site’s ecological health while integrating the new home seamlessly into its natural surroundings.

To manage stormwater and embrace the watershed, LDG reimagined runoff as a defining design feature. The land was graded so rainwater would collect in a central bioswale running through and beneath the house. Planted with native vegetation, the bioswale filters water naturally and visually connects the home to the surrounding wetland. Its channel was engineered with sand, compost, and topsoil to enhance infiltration, and planted with native sedges, grasses, and shrubs that create the appearance of a wild green river even when dry.

Across the property, surfaces were designed to absorb water rather than shed it. A 100-foot vegetated buffer protects the tidal pond, while permeable paving in the parking area and walkways reduces runoff. Paths interplanted with groundcovers like mazus lead visitors upward toward the house, offering sweeping views across the restored landscape — a testament to how thoughtful design can bring beauty and resilience to a once-degraded site.

PROJECT TEAM | A+I Architecture - UnionWorks Interiors - Bulgin & Associates - Marders