This project in Lenox Massachusetts is set on a large, nineteenth century estate tucked into the hillside above the lake. The vision was to turn an old bomb shelter into a pool house and outdoor living space. Set adjacent to a small pond and at the base of a mountain, we had to build an enhanced drainage plan into our construction. With steadily flowing ground water and poor soils we worked closely with the Conservation Commission to support the existing conditions while also taking extra measures to make sure our work would last. The large slab Goshen stone patio is set on a base of crushed stone with a grid of drainage pipes built in to remove excess water. As a rule of thumb for retaining walls we always build the base as far back into the grade as the wall is tall. For this wall at its tallest we went beyond that rule making the base close to ten feet deep into the grade. Below the wall a crushed stone base was piped into the patio drainage to remove and carry all water through our work. Behind the retaining wall sand was used to diminish hydraulic pressure.

It was important to match the feel of this historic property so all the stone we chose was reclaimed and weathered. A mix of granite fieldstone and large quarry blocks were used in the walls. Two tiers of stairs lead up to the pool while also creating seating for the patio. A large cantilever bench seat breaks up the imposing volume of the retaining wall. Running away from the pool house, the long retaining wall transitions to a full length seating wall flanking the pool area. This line and the linear pool frame a sculptural stone fire pit at the far end of the pool. A quarry reject, the stone has a natural curve as backdrop for a fire and its years spent on the quarry fringes are tallied by a dense patina of lichens.