ARBUTUS RIDGE

This project was designed by a prominent architectural firm, and while we were excited to work with some of the high end materials they had specified, the lot itself provided several challenges.

The major challenges we faced were the steep gradient of the lot, and the mature cedar trees limiting access from the street. In order to maximize functional space, we employed extensive retaining to tame the slope. Concrete retaining walls were faced in natural Whistler basalt, accented with inset landscape lighting and capped with custom poured-in-place concrete.

The slope of the lot, and the restricted access also necessitated a unique approach to moving bulk materials both on and off site, as conventional methods would have been ineffective. Long reach cranes were employed to efficiently place landscape and masonry materials throughout the lot.

Mass, sloped plantings highlight outdoor living spaces and blend beautifully with the mature trees retained on the lot. Artificial turf was employed where conventional grass would have fared poorly on a shaded north slope.