build Experiments with fence colors were posted on the blog and open for discussion.
gardens dominate the view from inside their respective houses. The new 20-ft. by 30-ft. space is serene and controlled, surrounded by the backyards of adjacent nineteenth-century row houses; the country garden is wild and has a forest preserve as its backdrop. James, who has gardened in Brooklyn for more than 30 years, developed a concept for his new urban space that integrates ideas for a gardener who wants to age in place. Inspired by Paley Park in Manhattan, it is a restful, visual meditation rather than one built for active participation. 44
LEAF MAGAZINE
spring 2013
The project began as an overgrown tangle dominated by a mature mulberry tree. When Hurricane Irene knocked down the tree just prior to construction, six men removed every bit of it over a five-day period through the apartment’s single access to the street—the front door. With the tree gone, James’s initial design had to be modified. Working from rough drawings and onsite measurements, James partnered with his contractor in the garden-making process. They experimented with ideas, keeping some and discarding others, resulting in a creation and building process that was