PLACEstudio Team: Tanya Kelley, Principal; Kate Dana, Senior Associate; Sopath Toun, Associate

With: Daponte’s Landscaping, Nelumbo Water Gardens, Shamrock Electric, Donovan Plumbing

Newport Samurai Garden is loosely based on the Zen gardens of Japan which are dry gardens of gravel and stone that mimic honored landscape features. This garden mimics the shape of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. The water is pea stone, and the Islands are a selection of found native boulders. Unlike the traditional Zen gardens of Japan the owner wanted to include a stream and waterfall with a coy pond. Entering the garden to the east one crosses a floating granite bridge passing over the coy pond with views to the lower waterfall which spills out over "Buddha's Hand", a stone in the shape of a hand. Turning east up floating stairs, and alongside a flowing stream, one walks through iris and tree peonies, around a weeping Katsura tree. The  Garden ascends the hill to a mountain scene of conifers and the source of the stream at the "Mountain Spring".

Hundred year old weeping Beech trees cling to sloping lawns punctuated by exposed shale ledge on this Narragansett bay site. The design for the outdoor spaces, gates and fences complement the Victorian style of the house. The driveway circle was reconfigured to preserve a dominant Beech tree and an exterior courtyard was created between the renovated laundry and chicken coup. Brick and bluestone terraces at the house and the pool take in the view. This project received a preservation award from The Newport Tree Society. 

A bosque of fastigiate hornbeams, Carpinus carolinia, and a granite walkway connect the original estate carriage house to a new guest house. The granite and white stones add a striking contrast to the lawn at the ground plane.

This pool was sited between two ledge outcroppings and connected to the main house by sloping paths and an elevator. The gardens consist of shady dry and sunny dry rock gardens as well as cutting gardens for this floral arranging client. 

River views and wildflower meadows envelop this extended terrace and lap pool design. A  custom arbor and gates were designed to compliment the existing cottage.

Team:

PLACEstudio Landscape Design: Tanya Kelley, Principal; Kate Dana, Associate

NewPort Architecture:  Mohamad Farzan and Dorienne West Farzan

DaPonte's Landscaping: Michael DaPonte

"Tension at the watering hole" is a good way to describe the feeling of this small yard which is now home to eighteen  animal sculptures. The lion glides across the Savannah (yard) through Miscanthus grasses and Gaura. The Gorilla sits at the edge of the "Jungle" composed of Clethra trees, Magnolia and Crape Myrtle, and leopards guard the watering hole (pool).

Completion Spring 2016

A visit to Beijing in 2005 inspired this garden design. A 'moongate' divides the long sideyard creating two gardens, one for entertaining and one for roses. The moongate provides a transition from one space to another and connects the spaces visually by mirroring two stones set on either side. The native Middletown, RI puddingstone bears a striking resemblance to Chinese jadite used as sculpture in many traditional Chinese gardens. The upper fence panels are an interpretation of a Chinese 'broken glass' design. This garden was accepted into the Library of Congress archives at the Smythsonian in 2022.