Ashebrook Villas Townhome Development

The land plan was done 1983 for Parkline Development of Fort Mill, SC.  The twenty acre site has one hundred and twelve townhouses that included one, two, and three bedroom units.  There is a hiking and jogging trail and is developed in amongst the trees for low impact on the site.  The site development was completed in the early nineties as shown by the aerial photograph above.

DeVore Lake House

The DeVore Lake House was designed in the winter of 2000.  The construction started in the spring and was completed early 2001.  One of the most significant design parameters of the project was the significant change in elevation from the lake to the building area.  The site is a Lake front lot with the access to the boat dock and very steep incline of natural rock out crops and trees.  The other site parameter was the limited building envelope area

The interior special requirements was to accommodate several living spaces; master suite, family room, kitchen and dining on the entry level.  The third level filled the space with gracious cathedral ceilings for the sitting area and bedrooms.  The lower level accommodated a home theater as well as a two bedroom suites

The style of the home is a Craftsman and English Tudor County Cottage blend or hybrid.  From the front the appearance is a simple cottage look, then from the interior spaces, views open up to the lake through windows and access to decks and a screen porch.  The integration of the stone of the steep slope into the base of the house gives the feeling the house just grows out of the site naturally.  The views from the lake present an alpine look that blends in with the trees, slope, and natural rock outcroppings.  My basic inspiration was an old Southern Living design of an Alpine A frame house that came to my mind that if modified for the site and needs of the client, could work in the very small foot print.  The DeVores agreed with the concept and the result is the proof.

The landscape amenities include a hot tub and a fire pit. These are integrated very close to the lower level as well as part of the access to the decking and steps to the boat dock.

(Photos are courtesy of Fred DeVore and Sarah Auvil.)

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Green Dragon Garden

The Green Dragon Garden is a private garden in public view. Located in our very own residential backyard, a neighborhood greenway passes through it, making it a very unique experience.

The garden is visible from the street as well as from on the greenway path that goes through the garden. This open setting allows the public to view, hear, feel, and smell the garden. All of the vistor's senses absorb the different aspects of the space.

The design follows traditional Japanese Garden design principles. The rock formations, water features, and the Lily Pond are all tradition design components to the garden. These components are composed in traditional formations of mountains, Turtle Island, Crane Island, several waterfalls and the Green Dragon sculpture.  The Green Dragon is by stone sculptor Dean Reganess of Coralatavii Stone Inc.

This Lily Pond is a water feature in the Green Dragon Garden. It naturally filters and cleans the water without chemicals, replicating a natural wetland environment. It works constantly and is extremely efficacious.  The Lily Pond is home to many creatures; there are several species of frogs and toads, Common Koi, Butterfly Koi, Sarasus Comets, Shibunkin, Rosy Minnows, Mosquito Fish and several water Lilies and other plant species.  One summer we even had a turtle visit for a week.

The Lily Pond serves also as a bioretention stormwater design research element used in my practice of Landscape Architecture for presentations of new technology for today's timeless "Green Theme" of design

The Garden is visited daily by neighbors walking by, visitors stopping from the street, which also serves as a traffic calming element seeing, how many people slow down just to look at the garden from their vehicle.

The Garden was installed By Duane Christopher with the pond construction by Pondscapes of Charlotte.

Jackson House

The Jackson Residence was designed in 1990 and completed in 1991. The style is a contemporary French hybrid. The site was sloping which allowed a full basement.  We used the basement for a two car garage.  The first floor included the master suite and guest room as well as the kitchen, dining, family, and living rooms.  The children's suites are on the second floor.