BY SARAYA BREWER CHEVY CHASER MAGAZINE urrounded by a mature tree canopy, a babbling stream that flows under the home’s living room during wetter months, natural stone hardscaping, and multi-level decks and walkways that play off of the natural slope of the ground, the property gives off a sense of being miles outside the city, even though it is located minutes from New Circle Road. With the residential habitat relying heavily on the natural landscape, the property is reminiscent of the “organic architecture” concept made famous by architect Frank Lloyd Wright – or, on a more local level, the work of the late Lexington architect Richard Isenhour, who designed a neighboring home on the street.
homeowners to preserve as much of the natural canopy as possible. “We knew when we moved in that one of the ideas of moving into a place like this was to be a good steward of the property,” the homeowners said. “The house was built in a way to try to preserve as many of the trees as possible – not just here, but in the rest of the neighborhood as well.” Deferring to the natural landscape appears to be a very intentional move on the part of the original developers, according to architect Clive Pohl, who has worked with the homeowners on a “piece by piece makeover” alongside his partners at Pohl Rosa Pohl, with much of the local contracting work coming from Jim Smith at Showplace. “There is kind of a modern sensibility back there that’s not present in a lot
“There’s a little bit of a wildness to it,” the homeowners said. “We’re trying to preserve that idea and not make it look too over-cultivated.” To that end, the owners have worked closely with a handful of different landscape experts since they bought the home, including John Michler, who has helped incorporate lots of hostas and other native plants; Mark Arnold of M2D Design Group, who has helped oversee much of the stone work on the property; Scott Campbell of Scott Campbell Designs, who oversaw much of the hardscaping and backyard makeover; and Dave Leonard of Dave Leonard Tree Specialists, who has worked with the
of Lexington,” Pohl said of the neighborhood. “And a lot of what (the homeowners) chose to do is in keeping with that original idea.” Pohl and his business partner Graham Pohl, an architect at the firm, both agree that fully incorporating the natural landscape into the home’s design may not have been entirely realized by the home’s original builders, however. “The curb appeal of the house was minimal (when the current homeowners purchased the home) because of the way the entry had been treated,” said Graham Pohl, referring to an entry that is now marked by an elegant wood and steel bridge that creates a sleek and harmo-
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The rear of the home (above) features multi-level wooden decks leading to the detached screened-in porch. The interior (right) maintains a balance of warm and contemporary. PHOTOS BY ROBBIE CLARK
chevy chaser magazine september 2012
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