Camp Davern is a private park that re-engages this young family and friends in nature. Designed to feel like an untouched natural area with zones for human interaction—the plantings include open and more dense woodland zones, groves of conifers, a Tamarack wetland, hi and low growing savanna, and sedge glens to compliment the intentional yet subtle built structures within the landscape.
The edible planting zone is placed in the sunny area adjacent to the house—giving easy access to vegetables and herbs.
Structures such as a “lean-to” reminiscent of a Cross country ski hut at a state park, a dramatic “party” pavilion, a dry stacked stone wall pickleball court, and meandering paths throughout create a camping retreat without leaving the home.
The redesign of this extra large urban lot offered the unique opportunity to re-envision a landscape without a private home as the centerpiece. The adventurous clients decide to remove the small second structure on an adjacent property in favor of creating a larger outdoor landscape for family and friends to enjoy! Our design solution for this unusual brief was to create a private park-like landscape to engage this young family in nature. The back half of the property is designed to feel like an untouched natural area with zones for human activity and congregation — the planting zones include a gradient of woodland groves, flowering meadows and sedge glens. Meandering paths of humble materials – stone, gravel and mulch – weave through the various planting zones and connect built structures within the landscape including an open air pavilion, a pickleball court and a covered wood structure designed to look like a WPA era hiking shelter.
The clients shared a strong vision to rewild the property and to create a future woodland. To achieve this, we did an extensive inventory of the trees on site which we used as a guide for selective thinning and replanting with a carefully selected mix of tall canopy trees and smaller understory trees that, in 50 years time, will begin to recall the upland forest that once inhabited this area.
The public-facing front of the site reflects the clients’ desire for a park-like entrance to their property. A short grass meadow with a mix of flowering pollinator species creates a colorful carpet extending to either side of the public walk. Set back from the sidewalk, a large curving privacy berm creates a strong separation from the busy road. The mound is planted with a dense mix of native conifer and deciduous shrubs and trees, reinforcing the sense of year-round seclusion. Viewed from the street, the meadow and berm evoke a dramatic meadow edge vista for passers by to enjoy.
