Explore a Beautiful, Rugged Landscape on the Willamette River
Riparian influences abound in this stunning riverside home and garden in the Pacific Northwest
Set on a steep hillside overlooking the Willamette River, this elegantly rustic home and landscape are poised between forest and waterway, drawing design inspiration from both environments. Cedar cladding camouflages the house, set among a grove of mature fir trees and with a woodland entry garden fed from rainwater runoff. In the backyard, a series of native basalt slab stairs and retaining walls — arguably the landscape’s most arresting design feature — carves a path like a meandering river down to the water below.
The natural site was not an easy one to develop. Challenges included a deluge of seasonal runoff and a drop of nearly 50 vertical feet from the home to the river, which the owners wished to access frequently. The design team embraced the project, challenges and all.
“We often refer to the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s concept of the ‘genius of place’ — working with, rather than against, the unique character of each site,” says Glenn Nardelli, principal designer at Pistils Landscape Design + Build. “We believe that a successful design begins with a deep understanding of how the built can harmoniously integrate with its natural surroundings.”
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“We often refer to the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s concept of the ‘genius of place’ — working with, rather than against, the unique character of each site,” says Glenn Nardelli, principal designer at Pistils Landscape Design + Build. “We believe that a successful design begins with a deep understanding of how the built can harmoniously integrate with its natural surroundings.”
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Front Yard
A series of concrete pads in the front yard lead past a new rustic timber carport through a lush woodland landscape carefully designed to help manage seasonal stormwater. The homeowners originally wanted a poured-concrete driveway, but the design team convinced them to switch to crushed gravel — a budget-saving move that also prevents runoff by allowing water to drain back into the soil.
The walkway appears to float in the landscape — most noticeable at the concrete steps leading to an existing wooden entryway bridge to the front door. “We kept a well-defined edge and drop-off on all sides with a heavily planted area below,” Nardelli says. “This contrast in elevation helps create that illusion.”
A series of concrete pads in the front yard lead past a new rustic timber carport through a lush woodland landscape carefully designed to help manage seasonal stormwater. The homeowners originally wanted a poured-concrete driveway, but the design team convinced them to switch to crushed gravel — a budget-saving move that also prevents runoff by allowing water to drain back into the soil.
The walkway appears to float in the landscape — most noticeable at the concrete steps leading to an existing wooden entryway bridge to the front door. “We kept a well-defined edge and drop-off on all sides with a heavily planted area below,” Nardelli says. “This contrast in elevation helps create that illusion.”
Rain Garden
The planted beds on either side of the walkway and surrounding the home’s perimeter function as rain gardens, and are filled with moisture-loving plants, such as sedges, rushes, camas, and irises. “The rain gardens are swales, amended with very porous soil and river rock to accept the large amount of stormwater that flows down from the hillside above,” Nardelli says.
Although a supplemental irrigation system was originally set up to help the young plantings establish, Nardelli says it can be pulled out after a season or two, after which the plants will survive on rainwater alone.
The planted beds on either side of the walkway and surrounding the home’s perimeter function as rain gardens, and are filled with moisture-loving plants, such as sedges, rushes, camas, and irises. “The rain gardens are swales, amended with very porous soil and river rock to accept the large amount of stormwater that flows down from the hillside above,” Nardelli says.
Although a supplemental irrigation system was originally set up to help the young plantings establish, Nardelli says it can be pulled out after a season or two, after which the plants will survive on rainwater alone.
Along the side of the house, native basalt slab stairs descend through meadow-like plantings of ornamental grasses, anemone, native western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) and salal (Gaultheria shallon).
Backyard
The back side of the home faces west, offering sweeping views of the Willamette River valley below. In addition to wanting a landscape that would take full advantage of the view and access to the river, the homeowners requested a large back patio with hardwood benches and an area for a hot tub.
The back side of the home faces west, offering sweeping views of the Willamette River valley below. In addition to wanting a landscape that would take full advantage of the view and access to the river, the homeowners requested a large back patio with hardwood benches and an area for a hot tub.
Patio and Hot Tub Area
On the upper level of the backyard, the team designed and installed a roughly 300-square-foot (27.9-square-meter) patio made of blue-gray stone, which transitions to a poured-concrete landing just outside the home. A stainless steel hot tub is slotted into the rear slope-side corner of the patio, giving bathers uninterrupted views of the river.
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On the upper level of the backyard, the team designed and installed a roughly 300-square-foot (27.9-square-meter) patio made of blue-gray stone, which transitions to a poured-concrete landing just outside the home. A stainless steel hot tub is slotted into the rear slope-side corner of the patio, giving bathers uninterrupted views of the river.
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Sustainably harvested tropical ipe wood was used for the screen behind the hot tub and floating benches. Nardelli points out that this wood stands up well to wet winters in the Pacific Northwest. Behind the ipe fence, clumping bamboo in a neighbor’s yard fills in to form a leafy screen between the homes.
This view from the back patio shows the river valley in early autumn, with the deciduous trees on the opposite bank turning gold.
Basalt Stairs
Tackling the hillside — a 50-foot drop in vertical feet from the home’s back door to the water’s edge — proved to be the greatest challenge of the project. “The ‘before’ of the slope was essentially a crumbling wall and boulder field,” Nardelli says of the starting point. The team set out to redesign a pathway and a series of retaining walls, and to incorporate some of the stone from the original abandoned installation.
All stonework: masons Darrin Craig and Shane Myers
Tackling the hillside — a 50-foot drop in vertical feet from the home’s back door to the water’s edge — proved to be the greatest challenge of the project. “The ‘before’ of the slope was essentially a crumbling wall and boulder field,” Nardelli says of the starting point. The team set out to redesign a pathway and a series of retaining walls, and to incorporate some of the stone from the original abandoned installation.
All stonework: masons Darrin Craig and Shane Myers
The walls, made of dry-stacked native basalt, range from 18 inches to 4 feet tall on either side of the generously sized pathway. The taller, slope-side walls double as retaining walls. As with other areas of the yard, managing rainwater runoff was a challenge, and careful design and construction were indispensable for the integrity of the retaining walls.
The team solved drainage in three ways. First, the masons left small gaps between the dry-stacked stones to allow the rock walls to be porous to water. Second, on the hidden side of each wall is a crushed-rock system. Third, pathways between the stone steps feature crushed basalt gravel, which absorbs water rather than contributing to runoff.
The team solved drainage in three ways. First, the masons left small gaps between the dry-stacked stones to allow the rock walls to be porous to water. Second, on the hidden side of each wall is a crushed-rock system. Third, pathways between the stone steps feature crushed basalt gravel, which absorbs water rather than contributing to runoff.
“The slope of the stairs had to be a gentle meander down the hill, as the client travels nearly daily from house to the river, often with paddleboards and kayaks in tow,” Nardelli says. “It was a perfect marriage between form and function, using materials indigenous to our region.”
See how other design professionals have tackled sloped lots
See how other design professionals have tackled sloped lots
Slope Garden
Helping control erosion are plants including pollinator-supporting salvias, coneflower (Echinacea sp.) and milkweed (Asclepias sp.), along with autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis), planted at the bases of the walls and in the sloped areas between them.
Helping control erosion are plants including pollinator-supporting salvias, coneflower (Echinacea sp.) and milkweed (Asclepias sp.), along with autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis), planted at the bases of the walls and in the sloped areas between them.
Over a few seasons, the grasses and perennials will fill in to form a meadow-like swath of planting. The soft and feathery texture of the meadow plantings pleasantly juxtaposes the heavy stone stairs.
Connection With Nature
The design team left the riverbank area undeveloped and natural, save for a few native species planted along the bank for erosion control. The decision — much like many others made throughout the project — welcomes a close connection between the landscape and the greater natural environment.
These days, the homeowners savor this connection with nature, enjoying morning paddles and encounters with wildlife, such as great blue herons, eagles, river otters and beavers, along the banks.
The design team left the riverbank area undeveloped and natural, save for a few native species planted along the bank for erosion control. The decision — much like many others made throughout the project — welcomes a close connection between the landscape and the greater natural environment.
These days, the homeowners savor this connection with nature, enjoying morning paddles and encounters with wildlife, such as great blue herons, eagles, river otters and beavers, along the banks.
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: An active, outdoorsy couple expecting their first child
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon, a suburb south of Portland
Lot size: About 1 acre
Landscape designers: Glenn Nardelli and Mikiel Deguara of Pistils Landscape Design + Build; Anita van Asperdt and Catherine Davis of LandCurrent Landscape Architects
The homeowners brought on Pistils Landscape Design + Build in partnership with LandCurrent Landscape Architects to design and install the landscape around their newly constructed home, after the original landscape designer-contractor failed to execute their vision for the space.