Residential Services
The goal of residential grounds and garden design is to obtain the desirable unity between outdoor and indoor living spaces.
GLA landscape architects, in appreciation for time and seasons, select plant materials to create year round color, texture and interest. Hardscaping elements from outdoor rooms with formal or aesthetic detailing.
In addition to how the spaces will be used, we seek to preserve positive site elements such as trees, ledges and water features while enhancing our client’s properties through the introduction of artistic contours, plantings, pools, overlooks, terraces and pergolas.
Master Planning
Master planning residential sites is a special responsibility for GLA’s architects. Every plan must accurately fit our owner’s programs, personalities, sites and budgets. The owners of this Rhode Island residence wanted sweeping views, extensive perennial borders and as many ‘framed pictures’ as possible. GLA’s response included outdoor rooms with diverse qualities and a shaded overlook that surveys the entire estate.
Formal Gardens
Requests for large, formal gardens are unusual, but welcomed. GLA’s approach after absorbing the owner’s dream vision is to create masterpieces of symmetry, scale and detailing. The strength of formal garden designs is derived through spatial balance, plant selection and architectural elements. Strolling quests in this large parterre garden experience a feeling reminiscent of times and gentility past.
Coastal Gardens
Coastal gardens present special opportunities to GLA’s landscape architects. Not only must our clients’ vision be realized, the seaside landscape must respond to its environment through design, implementation and maintenance. Overlooks, meadows and meandering grassy pathways become wonderful invitations to enjoy the outdoors. Naturalistic seasonal plantings enhance the feeling. The meeting sun and shade, land, water, sky and wind-shaped shrubs and tress complete GLA’s seaside gardens.
Hardscapes
Hardscapes are built structures of GLA’s gardens. Today’s clients seek expansiveness without boredom and useful areas with varied character. GLA selects from the limitless pallet of hardscape materials to create landscapes unique unto themselves. By combining and juxtaposing compatible and contrasting materials, GLA’s expertise with hardscaping assures every homeowner a special landscape for living and entertaining.
Water Features
Water features take on extreme importance in residential landscapes. Swimming pools and terraces are usually the largest features, except for tennis courts. GLA’s international resort experience rewards our residential clients with creatively inventive fountains, swimming pools, spas and waterfalls. GLA has designed swimming pools with infinity edges, wet decks, sunning benches and leaping water jets. GLA takes particular pride in producing beautiful water features that brings our clients many years of entertaining enjoyment.
Structures
Garden structures are critical elements in GLA’s residential commissions. Not only must these elements be properly scaled and built of the finest materials, they must convey a sense of permanence, usefulness and serenity. GLA’s landscape architects position garden structures as sculptural amenities even to understanding the effects that light and shadows will introduce. The pergola shown here features a wide sheltering overhang and built-in seating to afford the owners protection from the elements while relaxing.
Walls & Fencing
Walls sculpt the land. Fences define space. Both have their places in GLA’s residential landscapes. Through artful positioning of walls and fences, GLA can create multiple useful levels from flat or steeply sloped land. GLA’s landscape architects select wall materials and fence types as carefully as they specify surfaces, furnishing and plant materials. GLA’s residential projects always reflect the company’s high standards for design inspiration and construction quality.
Quality Detailing
Residential landscapes, whether intimately scaled or impressively expansive, are always gardens. This characteristic of GLA’s residential designs invites close observation of themes and implementation. Our design details and construction oversight ensures completion of thoroughly enjoyable, consistently beautiful gardens. Our valued residential clients deserve the highest possible level of quality in their landscapes. GLA’s mission is to fulfill and exceed those expectations.
