As we close in on the final laps of Rosslyn’s icehouse rehab, it’s pretty exciting to see the hardscape and softscape (aka landscaping, gardening, etc.) coming together step-by-step. Today I offer you a photo update of the most recent hardscape accomplishments.
Before chronicling up-to-date, progress, let’s take a quick look at the term “hardscape”.
“Hardscape” and “Softscape” are words created by landscape Architect Don Brinkerhoff of the famous destination resort landscape architectural firm, “Lifescapes” Inc.
The hardscape elements of a project refer to all components in the landscape that are non-living. Therefore, outdoor furniture, walkways, architecture, and water features all fall into this category. The hardscape creates spaces for living, and enjoying the outdoors. These elements of the landscape remain unchanging and are stable, constant features that must be carefully chosen to balance with both the house and the surrounding flora. (Source: Hardscaping vs. Softscaping)
AtRosslyn, our home and the recently reimagined icehouse both incorporate exterior living environments that extend the indoors outdoors. Because so much of our lifestyle involves living an entertaining outside of the walls of our home, we have long endeavored to integrate the aesthetics and functionality of our inside and outside built environment.
The icehouse’s relatively diminutive interior space incited me to maximize the interest and usability of the deck and sunken courtyard, defining a three-season environment as unique as it is welcoming. The garapa deck with hot tub, complement the main room of the icehouse as a cohesive extension of the open plan, cathedral ceiling interior. The mostly glass west elevation accentuates this continuity.
Stepping down from the character-rich decking first onto a repurposed stone monolith repurposed from an old Rosslyn cistern, and then second onto a tapestry of tumbled stone pavers, you feel not only like the distinction between interior/exterior are blurred, but there’s a keen sense of grounding. The sunken courtyard, surrounded on two sides by sloped beds, are further defined along their upper edge with stone walls comprised of stone salvaged on-site and repurposed into a timeless border wall that echoes 200 years of similar stone walls throughout Rosslyn’s historic grounds.
To the south, the icehouse’s sunken courtyard is defined by the north and west elevations of the carriage barn and by the almost complete privacy fence fabricated out of lumber that was harvested, milled, cured, and finish-dimension on site.
Defining edges between stone, deck, lawn, ornamental grasses, and flowerbeds, sturdy steel edging stabilizes elements, offers crisp definition, and isolates roots into their appropriate domains.
In these last two photos, you can see the steel edging partially installed (above) and fully installed (below). 
To the left of the steel edge lawn will once again be planted, and the steel edge will restrict the grass from invading the small band south of the deck where the ornamental grass is I’ve already been planted. Tomorrow, Teddi Rogers will be back on site to help advance the planting of many exciting perennials, bulbs, and my favorite… poppies!
Thank you, Calvin, Tony, and Glen for continuing to sculpt this space into the courtyard of my imagination. And thank you Teddi, for bringing your creative and disciplined practice to the avalanche of ornamentals arriving day after day. I can’t wait to see your progress over the next couple of weeks!
What do you think?