Jule Pond

The Landscape Architect was involved from the beginning, collaborating with the architect on the siting and placement of the house. Because of the sensitive nature of the site-a low-lying farm field directly bordering a freshwater pond—FEMA regulations required that the house be elevated well above grade. This created an opportunity for environmental intervention. Raising the site required re-grading the land, leading to the mitigation of soil pollution caused by generations of poor farming practices. Pesticide-laden soils were removed from the site and replaced with locally sourced topsoil mixed with clean sand from the house excavations. Along the pond’s shoreline, a 100-foot wide buffer of native plantings was added to nourish the wetland.