RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD OF HONOR Private Residence/Garden of Planes, Richmond, VA Gregg Bleam Landscape Architects, Charlottesville, VA

	"Remarkable. . . the landscape architect has made the space feel so much larger. . .very familiar vocabulary of mid-century modernism, but is much richer. . .extraordinarily precise. . . nice scale to the materials." — 2005 Professional Awards Jury Comments

For this project the client asked Gregg Bleam Landscape Architects to design a minimalist interpretation of an Italian terraced garden. Economy and proportion are intrinsic qualities of the design. Freestanding Tennessee sandstone wall planes flank the entry to the new garden. Bronze gates, reminiscent of Japanese shoji screens, lead to a black slate terrace whose edges are defined by a naval brass reflecting pool and a bronze vine scrim supporting grape vines. On the left, a cantilevered slate step leads to a bocce lawn surrounded by stucco walls. A long cedar bench suspended from the vine scrim faces the perennial garden for spectators to sit and enjoy a match. Staggered rows of European hornbeam border the end of this upper garden terrace. On the right of the entry terrace, slate steps subtly cross the adjacent reflecting pool. Serviceberry trees planted in a quincunx pattern similar to that of Tuscan olive groves disguise a path that leads to the secret garden, a pleasant place to enjoy a glass of wine.