Project Overview

Perched atop the windswept plateau of Naches Heights and overlooking Cowiche Canyon, this design attempts to merge the building with its native shrub-steppe surroundings. Basalt outcroppings, rugged topography, and resilient plant communities form the foundation for a landscape that feels timeless—appearing as though the home has long belonged to the land.

Design Intent

The landscape approach prioritizes preservation and restoration of native ecology while establishing a refined and welcoming site experience. Rather than imposing a formal foreground, the design reinforces the existing terrain, allowing architecture and landscape to work together as a cohesive whole. Arrival, circulation, and outdoor spaces are shaped to feel understated and intuitive, guided by the land itself.

Landscape Strategy

Planting design draws directly from the surrounding canyon environment, using native grasses, shrubs, and groundcovers to extend existing plant communities across the site. These new and restored landscapes enhance habitat for native birds, pollinators, and other wildlife while introducing seasonal variation through texture, color, and movement. Basalt landforms are preserved and integrated into grading and circulation, anchoring the project visually and ecologically within its setting.

Scope

Method is collaborating closely with the architectural team on site layout, entry sequence, site lighting, and material selection to ensure continuity between architecture and landscape. The landscape is conceived as a living extension of the basalt hills and grasslands of Naches Heights—designed to mature naturally over time with minimal intervention.