Staying close to home

Local materials have an important place in the house and garden. I'm not always able to use the stone, tile or lumber that can be harvested or made close to the construction site (see previous post about 'Indian Block'), but when possible local products add a tone of regionalism. This ethos is particularly fitting in the garden, where native stone and plants help to define locale. Modern or traditional architecture equally benefit and, when used with proportion and scale, can fit seamlessly into the landscape. In addition to the aesthetic, local materials, like the local grown food movement, is a good environmental practice.

Above is my 'camp' entry in Maine and is comprised of stone, spruce, fern and moss (all local) and a somewhat shabby barn. I've also used White Pine needles as a paving material.

And here, back in Key West, I designed some decidedly modern steps using Key Largo coral stone. One of the few native stones available to us here at the end of the road.