Illinois Private Residence
Chinese Strolling Garden & Pond Renovation

Combining a passion for Chinese antiquities and a love for midwestern landscapes, this client desired a new thematic strolling garden surrounding a small existing pond to showcase their collection of artifacts, including many sculptures and structures. A handful of homesites and buildings surrounded the degraded one acre pond that was re-envisioned to improve its function by doubling the surface water area and adding an island. After dewatering the pond to allow for its shorelines to be regraded, walking paths and new bridges were constructed to access the center island and its outdoor displays of historic artworks.

Living Habitats assisted with all conceptual design through construction documentation and permitting for this project, which had to secure a federal, as well as several local permits to be allowed to proceed. Detailed site inventory documented limits of the site’s wetlands both around the pond and in the surrounding flat woods. This information guided the design which limited proposed grading to degraded portions of the site.

Hardscape details were carefully studied and developed to utilize the client’s previously collected artworks while customizing the garden constructions to marry with the site and modern building codes. Nature-based symbology important to the client was also integrated to further personalize the garden. Native plantings cloak the pond shoreline, blending it with the surrounding deciduous woodland.

Location:
Illinois

Date:
2006 – 2011