Are you curious a coastal garden New England looks like after 12 years Making?

Preserving Nature While Creating a Serene Living Space

A coastal New England garden can take decades to perfect. In this case, it took over 12 years of patience, careful planning, and dedication to bring one couple’s dream to life. What began as a heavily wooded rise overlooking the sea has transformed into a harmonious blend of wild nature and cultivated landscape. Guided by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), the project demonstrates how modern architecture and sensitive landscape design can coexist beautifully with the rugged charm of the New England coast.

The Vision: A Home Rooted in Wilderness

More than a decade ago, a couple discovered a property on the New England shoreline. With its dense oak trees, rolling breeze, and sweeping views of the water, it felt untouched and almost sacred. The challenge was balancing that untouched character with the comforts of a home that could serve as a gathering place for friends and family.

Rather than imposing a single grand structure, RAMSA proposed a design strategy that blended into the natural environment. The result is a collection of buildings, gardens, and outdoor rooms that echo the rhythms of the surrounding wilderness. Every detail, from the use of local rubble stone in walls to the planting of native shrubs and trees, was chosen to celebrate New England’s character.

Architecture Inspired by the Land

The architectural approach was guided by what project lead Roger H. Seifter calls “planned imperfection.” Instead of creating rigid lines or overly polished features, the design team leaned into the organic qualities of the site. The split rail fences, for example, look as though they have always been there, while the hawthorn and bayberry shrubs grow as naturally as the coastal breeze itself.

The house and its accompanying structures were not designed to dominate the site but to complement it. Covered porches extend into the outdoors, functioning as outdoor rooms where residents can feel immersed in the surrounding gardens. By embracing natural materials and forms, the architecture becomes part of the ecosystem rather than an intrusion.

Selective Clearing and Conservation Efforts

One of the most important aspects of the project was the property’s ecological stewardship. The original forest was suffering from a moth infestation that had left many oaks defoliated. With the guidance of the local conservation commission, the team selectively cleared certain areas.

This process served two purposes: it created a stable building site and also allowed for new meadows, lawns, and view corridors. Now, from the main house, carefully carved openings reveal glimpses of the water, while other parts of the land remain densely wooded. The balance between open and forested areas gives the garden its layered, dynamic character.

A Driveway Immersed in Nature

Even the approach to the home was carefully considered. The long driveway winds through eastern redcedar, sassafras, and holly trees, along with native shrubs such as black huckleberry, sweet gale, and arrowwood. Instead of a sterile or imposing entrance, visitors arrive through a living tunnel of plant life that feels timeless and deeply connected to the landscape.

The driveway eventually opens into a meadow before presenting the main house, which is gracefully framed by creeping roses. This thoughtful sequence ensures that every arrival feels like a journey through New England’s natural heritage.

The Role of Outdoor Rooms

A defining feature of the property is its use of covered porches and terraces as outdoor extensions of the home. These outdoor rooms allow the family to enjoy the changing seasons—watching spring blossoms, feeling summer breezes, admiring autumn colors, and even experiencing winter storms—without ever leaving their sanctuary.

This seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living reflects a key goal of the project: to create a home that exists within its environment, not apart from it.

Native Plantings and “Planned Imperfection”

Gardens in coastal New England face unique challenges, from salty air and rocky soil to harsh seasonal shifts. To meet these conditions, the design focused on native plantings that thrive naturally in the region.

Bayberry shrubs, hawthorn trees, creeping roses, and other species were chosen not only for their resilience but also for their authenticity. This ensures the garden looks like it belongs to the landscape rather than being imposed upon it.

Seifter described the aesthetic as “planned imperfection.” Instead of perfectly manicured flowerbeds or overly designed layouts, the gardens feel spontaneous and free-flowing. Yet behind the natural look lies a deliberate plan that ensures the ecosystem thrives year after year.

Balancing Preservation and Design

What makes this coastal New England garden remarkable is the balance it strikes between preservation and design. The architects and landscape team resisted the temptation to overdevelop the site. Instead, they sought harmony—retaining wild oak groves while adding cultivated meadows, shaping view corridors without destroying natural beauty, and building fences and stone walls that seem to grow organically from the ground.

The result is a property that feels timeless. It honors the land’s history, celebrates its ecology, and provides a living space that is both functional and poetic.

The Influence of Local History

Beyond ecology, the design draws inspiration from New England’s cultural heritage. Rubble stone walls echo the region’s traditional farm boundaries. Split rail fences call to mind centuries-old homesteads. Even the plant palette reflects the coastal communities that have long relied on native species for beauty and resilience.

By rooting the garden in both natural and cultural history, the project becomes more than a private retreat—it is a tribute to the character of coastal New England itself.

Lessons for Future Coastal Gardens

The success of this 12-year project offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in coastal garden design or sustainable architecture. Among them:

• Respect the site’s natural character. Work with existing ecosystems instead of imposing artificial landscapes.

• Use native plantings. Not only do they thrive more easily, but they also strengthen biodiversity and connect the property to its region.

• Plan for imperfection. A garden that looks natural is often the result of thoughtful restraint.

• Integrate architecture with nature. Outdoor rooms, natural materials, and layered views allow buildings to harmonize with their surroundings.

• Think long-term. Gardens evolve over decades. Patience and ecological sensitivity yield the most enduring results.

A Garden That Feels Eternal

Twelve years of planning and care have transformed a wooded rise into one of the most stunning examples of coastal New England garden design. More than a home, it is a living landscape—one that honors wilderness while offering comfort, one that feels natural yet carefully curated, and one that will continue to evolve for generations.

In a world where development often erases nature, this project by Robert A.M. Stern Architects stands as a reminder that human design and the natural world can thrive together. It is proof that, with patience and vision, even a cultivated garden can feel as eternal as the coast itself.