Oyster Harbor
Osterville, MA

This landscape is a comprehensive re-development of a two-acre parcel on Oyster Harbors overlooking West Bay in Osterville, Massachusetts. The site program included a drive and arrival court constructed of brick on edge with granite edging, a swimming pool and spa, monolithic granite steps, terraced lawn, paths, and planting. The existing site was heavily wooded, primarily composed of Pitch Pine with a few American Holly, Spruce, and Oak. The coastal bank and wooded site had become overgrown with Pitch Pine, causing shading of the ground and limited bio-diversity. The design strategy was to partition the site into a series of smaller volumes to expand the impression of open area and sequence throughout the property. Inspired by Cape Cod’s vernacular of clipped hedges and enclosed gardens, STIMSON responded to the buildings’ symmetry in the composition of interconnected and overlapping landscape volumes. Two site lines constructed of crushed granite and granite edging parallel the long property lines on either side of the primary residence connecting smaller spaces leading to views of West Bay and the terraced water side landscape. Masses of native summer flowering shrubs define the edge of managed landscape and provide wildlife habitat near the occupied landscape. The design eliminated impervious surfaces within the coastal bank setback (existing house, terrace, drive) increasing the coastal bank’s stability and wildlife habitat. In addition, STIMSON specified soil sensors tied to the irrigation system to prevent unnecessary water usage, specified native drought tolerant species within the coastal bank setback, and established an organic maintenance program.

Collaborators
Catalano Architects