Loading...
05-049 623 Kennedy Rd-ExistingConditionsAddendum.pdfA L a n d s c a p e D e s i g n f o r Li s a M a n g i a m e l e & B r i a n E a s t w o o d 62 3 K e n n e d y R o a d Le e d s , M A 0 1 0 5 3 De s i g n e r : D a v i d W e b e r Fa l l 2 0 1 4 1/13 ϯϯϮ ^͘ DĞĞƌĮĞůĚ RŽĂĚ ͮ WK Ždž ϭϳϵ ͮ ŽŶǁĂLJ, MA Ϭϭϯϰϭ ϰϭϯͲϯϲϵͲϰϬϰϰ ǁǁǁ͘ĐƐůĚ͘ĞĚƵ No t f o r C o n s t r u c t i o n . P a r t o f a s t u d e n t p r o j e c t n o t b a s e d o n a l e g a l s u r v e y . Project OverviewInhabiting a New Home With Sustainability In MindA Bit of BackgroundBrian Eastwood and Lisa Mangiamele purchased their home at 623 Ken-nedy Road in Leeds, Massachusetts, in late June 2014. They were drawn to their new property by its quiet rural neighborhood, beautiful forest-ed character and for its convenient proximity to downtown Northamp-ton. This combination is particularly well-suited to both of their careers (Brian works from home and Lisa teaches at Smith College) and to their desire for a comfortable home retreat that fosters their connection to the outdoors and plays a positive ecological role within the surrounding area.The Lay of the LandThe 3.5-acre plot is densely wooded over its entirety with the exception of an approximately .33 acre clearing along Kennedy Road. Within that clearing stands an approximately 1700-square-foot gambrel-style house with an attached one-car garage built in 1977 and a detached two-car garage. The majority of the open area around the house is to the north where there is an expanse of lawn which slopes up slightly to a high point on the edge of the woods in the northeast corner, and to the northwest where there is an old ornamental garden between the drive-way and road. Access to the property is via a short, very steep driveway which meets the road directly west of the attached garage. Also of note is the close proximity of the forest canopy as well as a dense shrub border around much of the southern end of the house (see section at bottom right). Moving Forward Š‹Ž‡ –Š‡› ƒ”‡ “—‹–‡ Šƒ’’› ‹ –Š‡‹” ‡™ Š‘‡ǡ ‘˜‡” –Š‡ Ƥ”•– ˆ‡™ ‘–Š• living there, Brian and Lisa have become aware of some of the unique challenges posed by their property and its surroundings. First and fore- most the driveway is very steep, posing serious questions as to winter ƒ……‡••‹„‹Ž‹–›Ǥ – ƒŽ•‘ •Š‘™• •‹‰• ‘ˆ •‹‰‹Ƥ…ƒ– ‹…‡ †ƒƒ‰‡ǡ ƒ† Šƒ• ’‘‘” visibility in either direction at the road. Secondly, Brian and Lisa have ‘–‹…‡† ™ƒ–‡” ”—‘ơ ’‘‘Ž‹‰ ƒŽ‘‰ –Š‡ ‡ƒ•– •‹†‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ †”‹˜‡™ƒ›ǡ ™Š‹…Š ˆ‡‡†• ƒ ‡š’ƒ†‹‰ ‡”‘•‹‘ …Šƒ‡Ž ƪ‘™‹‰ ƒ…”‘•• –Š‡ Žƒ™ –‘ –Š‡ ‡ƒ•– ‡ƒ” –Š‡ •‘—–Š ‡† ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” Ž‡ƒ…Š Ƥ‡Ž†Ǥ Š‡› Šƒ˜‡ ƒŽ•‘ ‘–‹…‡† ™Šƒ– ƒ’- pears to be evidence of water in the basement under the south end of the house. Finally, having had a 6-inch diameter paper birch fall on the house soon after they bought it, Brian and Lisa are concerned about the proximity of trees to the house on its west, south, and east sides. They also dislike the dense rhododendrons growing to the west and east (see photo “D” and section at right), which make for claustrophobic views from the living room and the lawn outside the walkout basement, respectively. The dense trees and shrubs to the west of the house also …‘–”‹„—–‡ –‘ ™Šƒ– ”‹ƒ ƒ† L‹•ƒ Ƥ† –‘ „‡ ƒ —ƪƒ––‡”‹‰Ȁ—™‡Ž…‘- ing view of the house when arriving. In addition to addressing these challenges, Brian and Lisa are interested in having a vegetable garden and possibly growing perennial fruits, such as blueberries and raspberries. They would also like to assess potential for an active solar installation as well as options to improve the house’s passive solar exposure. The stand of trees directly west of the house (outlined in red dots) is of particular concern to Brian and Lisa. Several black and paper birches there are leaning precariously over the house. In addition, the large rhododendrons to the west and east (out- lined in orange dots) form a dense visual and physical barrier between the lawn and forest. 0 20 40 80 ft N Property Bounda r y Old GardenDriveway GarageHigh Point105110115 100 95 90 85 80 75 757065 Low Point Leach FieldLawn Coniferous Tree (typical) Deciduous Tree (typical) Septic Tank DesignFocus Area Shrub Intermittent StreamsMaster Bedroom (2nd floor)Attached Garage (ground floor)DeckKitchenLiving RoomDownspout/Drainage Pipe ExitExisting Conditions Ke n n e d y R o a d Dense Trees & ShrubsA A'Narrow Clearing Dense Shrubs A A' r o ď e Ĉ t  ě e r ě i e w A AB B C C D D Primary Goals and Criteria • Improve the safety and ease of access to the property. ̽ Redesign the driveway with a slope <10% (preferably under 8%) or develop a non- driveway parking and access solution with at least 2 covered parking spaces and 3-4 additional guest spaces. • Mitigate drainage problems on the driveway and around the house so as to prevent ‡”‘•‹‘ ƒ† †‡…”‡ƒ•‡ –Š‡ ”‹• ‘ˆ ƪ‘‘†‹‰Ǥ ̽ –‡”…‡’–ǡ †‹”‡…–ǡ ƒ† ‹ƤŽ–”ƒ–‡ ƒ• —…Š ”‘ƒ† ”—‘ơ ƒ• ’‘••‹„Ž‡Ǥ • Assess vegetation in close proximity to the house for possible removal. ̽ Identify trees leaning towards the house to be removed. ̽ Identify trees which shade the house and lawn for potential removal. ̽ Identify shrubs (esp. invasive species) around the house for thinning or removal. • Site a vegetable garden and perennial edibles. ̽ Vegetable beds must provide at least 64 square feet of planting area. Additional room to expand in the future would be ideal. Secondary/ Long Term Goals • Create appealing human-scale outdoor living space(s) –‘ ˆ‘•–‡” ƒ ‘”‡ ƪ—‹† connection between indoor and outdoor living. • Develop a long term management plan for the property with an eye towards maintaining and, where possible, increasing wildlife habitat and native plant …‘—‹–‹‡•Ǥ Š‹• ‹…Ž—†‡• DȀ”‡‘˜ƒŽ ‘ˆ ‹˜ƒ•‹˜‡ •’‡…‹‡• ˆ—”–Š‡” ƒƤ‡Ž† ‘ –Š‡ •‹–‡Ǥ • Develop trail access to the eastern, forested portion of the property.