Project Overview

The Dundee Residence is an ecologically sensitive residential master plan developed for a six acre property in Dundee. Method was engaged to create a landscape framework that preserves and enhances the existing oak savannah and woodland surrounding a newly constructed home, while also supporting outdoor living and food production.

The project balances long term stewardship of the land with the owners’ desire for usable and meaningful outdoor spaces connected closely to daily life.

Design Intent

The design intent was to protect and reinforce the site’s native landscape character while carefully introducing new elements that support living, gathering, and cultivation. Emphasis was placed on maintaining the integrity of the oak savannah and woodland ecosystems beyond the immediate home footprint, allowing the residence to feel embedded within its natural setting rather than imposed upon it.

Closer to the house, the intent shifts toward creating comfortable and intentional outdoor spaces that extend the architecture into the landscape.

Landscape Strategy

Native vegetation was specified across the expansive areas of the site farther from the residence, providing habitat for wildlife while keeping long term maintenance demands low. These plantings reinforce ecological continuity and preserve the open character of the oak savannah and woodland.

Adjacent to the home, the modern architectural language provided an opportunity to introduce a structured outdoor courtyard oriented toward a terraced edible garden. Located conveniently near the kitchen, this garden supports everyday use and reinforces the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Local stone was used to construct organic, free flowing retaining walls that stabilize steep slopes while creating additional usable landscape areas. These elements respond directly to the site’s topography and materials, allowing the landscape to feel both purposeful and rooted in place.

Collaborators

M.O.Daby Design, Cellar Ridge