LC/DBM provides landscape contractors with Educational, Imaginative and Practical information about their business, their employees, their machines and their projects.
Hardscapes 0!6%23s-!3/.29s",/#+3s2/#+3
,!2'% %34!4% Hardscapes Help Define
By Gregory Harris, LC/DBM B
uilding a 13,200 square foot home on one acre of property featuring large grade changes and a septic field on site was challenging for the team at Countryside Industries, Inc., but a generous use of hardscapes helped to transform the once barren lot into a residential masterpiece.
of Design Development at Countryside Industries. "The grade changes made this site not only a chal- lenge to design, but also added some interesting wall and stairway work."
Hardscapes Selection
Wauconda, Ill.-based Countryside Industries is a landscape architect and contractor firm that spe- cializes in residential and commercial landscaping, municipal projects, and landscape management. On this project, Countryside developed the entire site and designed and installed all of the exterior hardscapes.
The property, located in suburban Chicago, Ill., is in an area that features rolling hills. As a result, the site features 21 feet of grade changes. "The site had a very aggressively sloped lot that was also a bit small for the extremely large house on which it was located," said Joe Davito, director
8 LC DBM
"This was a new construction on an empty lot essentially," Davito said. "A project of this scale was easier to achieve by having a clean slate." The large house is clad with limestone and Da- vito said his plan was to carry the themes from the house to the exterior surfaces.
"We used limestone for the retaining walls and porch surfaces, though the stone that we used comes from different quarries from what was used on the house," he said.
Above: Masonry Columns with stone to match the residence flank both sides of the paver driveway. The driveway leads up to the "porte cochere" at the left. Beyond the porte cochere is a large paver motor court with garage access at the back of the residence. Approximately 6,000 square feet of precast concrete pavers were used on the driveway and motor court.
Left: Construction of the driveway is underway. Limestone Retaining Walls for the circular driveway Rose Garden and front stoop are also under construction at this point. Fifteen feet of grade change in the front yard necessitated the use of walls, steps and grading. PHOTOS COURTESY OF COUNTRYSIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Continued on page 10)