East Meets East

Architect Alfredo De Vido, FAIA, chanted his mantra—”asymmetry, approach, surprise”—as he designed the Asian-inspired landscape for this Long Island, N.Y., retreat (see image gallery). His plan was to create a progression of intimate outdoor spaces that would result in big finishes. “Part of the Japanese landscape philosophy is to play visual and physical games,” explains De Vido, who studied landscape design in that country.

Bluestone pavers greet guests at the entry gate to the property and lead them on a serene journey around the 2-acre site, with a few unexpected surprises along the way. The serpentine path makes subtle changes in direction and steps up and down to capture views or skirt the occasional built-in bench placed for quiet repose.

Thanks to densely wooded areas on the property, De Vido was able to use shadows to slowly reveal the fish pond that caps the front garden. A recirculating brook bubbles into the shallow, 1,200-square-foot pond to keep water fresh for fish and foliage. Stepping stones continue across the water and stop at an island big enough for just one chair. De Vido left a sizable gap in the stones to tempt wanderers to jump to a second island, although the less adventurous have the option to turn back and follow the path around the pond to reach the same point without taking a leap.

“One of the ideas [the client and I] liked was a sense of enclosure,” says the architect. The deer population in the area is prolific, so fencing served that purpose as well. Like the ever-changing pathway through the gardens, the fence enclosing them follows a winding route. It starts as a solid wall topped with a distinctly Japanese gate to shield entry spaces. Once it turns the corner, the fence lightens into narrow cedar slats spaced wide enough to offer generous glimpses out of and into the yard. According to De Vido, deer don’t have very good eyesight, so the more transparent sections of fence are still a deterrent. “They can’t see through the pickets well enough to want to jump.”

The idea of a house reaching out to the landscape is another key design element transported from Japanese culture. Although many of the secret resting spots can’t be seen from the house, De Vido formed strong physical ties between indoor and outdoor spaces. Large overhangs connect porches to gardens and blue-stone pavers flow inside where they look like stepping stones in a dark sea of highly polished wood floors.

The swimming pool is a Western idea that the architect adapted to his vision. “Water is a very Asian element, but we didn’t want to look at this bright blue spot within a wild landscape,” he explains. A black finish on the pool’s interior generates a muted, highly reflective surface that mirrors nearby plants such as the swath of native grasses around the perimeter. A spa nestles into those grasses and is reached by yet another winding walkway.

De Vido selected indigenous plantings that require little maintenance to soften and conceal the hardscape. He integrated the plants and architecture to produce a natural look that appears to be arranged haphazardly. In reality, every moment and each seemingly whimsical detail was meticulously planned. “As you walk outside, the landscape unfolds,” says De Vido. “I designed with the idea of seeing new things each time you walk through.”

Project Credits
Builder: Tedell Construction, Center Moriches, N.Y.
Architect/Landscape designer: Alfredo De Vido Architects, New York City
Site: 2 acres
Photographer: Paul Warchol
Illustrator: Harry Whitver