Three Falls

A Tudor-style home, built in the early 20th century, occupies a 1.6-acre lot in Summit, New Jersey. The client, a family of six, sought a sophisticated landscape design for their rear yard. They envisioned strong indoor-outdoor connections, a luxurious swimming pool environment with supporting structures, spacious lawns for recreation, layers of privacy plantings, and bespoke details throughout.

In response, the landscape architect conceived three distinct areas inspired by natural systems: The Meadow, The Marsh, and The Woodland, which were realized as The Great Lawn, The Swimming Hole, and The Shady Lawn. The master plan included a free-form swimming pool with a therapeutic spa and three waterfalls, three cabana structures, a geometric formal lawn, a batting cage, and a ping pong garden.

The design harnessed the sloping topography on the south edge of the property, previously characterized by overgrown vegetation, poor drainage, and a significant grade change. Stormwater was managed through an underground chamber system, enabling rapid recovery of lawn areas after heavy rainfall.

As both landscape architect and general contractor, the designer ensured meticulous execution of critical details, from hydronically heated walkways to precise pool edge tolerances and perfect alignment. Over eighteen months, they managed twenty subcontractors while balancing sophisticated construction techniques with a simple, elegant, and sustainable plant palette.

The result is a refined and contextually appropriate landscape that gracefully manages steep slopes, provides functional recreational spaces, retains stormwater on-site, supports pollinators, and preserves mature native trees. This resilient and verdant landscape is a testament to the designer's vision and the client's discerning taste.