A good indication to a fun project is when the clients request is as simple as “something cool”. “Something Cool” was the primary objective for this contemporary landscape design/build project. Beyond the request for a pool, Rost, Inc had lots of freedom on this Columbia home’s outdoor space.
With a more modern or contemporary feel, from layout to materials, it was a fun project to watch come together. The biggest challenge in the design was trying to fit the site features into a fairly tight space in a backyard without blowing the budget on site-work. The existing site was a blank slate with simple concrete foundation patios, and anything outside of that was considerable sloping lawn. Square feet of space was not the issue, but usable space was. Only a couple pool layouts or locations would work or lay naturally into the site, and designing usable space around the pool was a challenge.
After several design options and with budgets in mind, Rost, Inc was able to present “something cool”, scale the scope to match the budget, and design/build a space unique to Columbia. The design process took just short of two months from start to finish which included several site revisions, 3D renderings and corresponding budgets.
Key Features Included:
- Pool + Pool Fountains with Floating Stepping Path
- Hot Tub,
- Large Dimensional Paving–both solid and accented or broken with beach cobbles
- A Stone Fireplace with Hearth and Wood Boxes
- Custom Cut Stone Blocks–used as walls, seating and steps
- Granite Boulder Outcrops
- Modern Gas Firepit–cut into existing concrete patio
- A Stone Outdoor Kitchen with BBQ and Fridge
- Lighting, Irrigation, and Sound System
Materials were chosen to give a modern or contemporary feel, while still using many natural materials. The majority of hardscape elements where light gray or pewter in color with darker accents coming from beach cobbles and large granite boulders. Plantings surrounding the space helped soften the hardscapes and included many unique or specimen type plants from dwarf gingko, Tanyosho Pine, Japanese maples, weeping redbuds, a wall of columnar junipers, columnar crabapples, Seven Son Flower, magnolias, and a variety of shrubs.
