东湖居丨LaGuardia Design Group

Perched on a hillside overlooking a pristine lake, this project set out to unify two adjoining properties — one with a primary residence and the other with a guest house — into a cohesive, environmentally sensitive landscape. The clients, avid swimmers and outdoor enthusiasts, wanted to enjoy the lake while helping to protect its water quality.

A natural depression between the two lots posed both a challenge and an opportunity. Rather than filling it, LaGuardia Design Group transformed it into a defining feature — a planted seasonal streambed that captures and filters stormwater before it reaches the lake. Native sedges, switchgrass, and little bluestem stabilize the slopes, while a bridge across the stream connects the two homes through a network of simple turf paths. The restored waterway now serves as both a visual and ecological link across the property.

To further protect the lake’s ecosystem, LDG minimized turf areas and replaced invasive plants with native shrubs and trees such as shadbush, bayberry, inkberry holly, and red cedar. The result is a seamless, sustainable landscape that blends naturally into its lakeside setting while uniting two distinct properties into one harmonious whole.

PROJECT TEAM | Robert Young Architects - Men at Work Construction - Fort Pond Native

LAGUARDIA DESIGN GROUP

| LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE