On a former quarry site along the St. Croix River in New Brunswick, Riverside Ranch is a project that marries architecture and landscape into a “coastal farm” vision for a family of two humans, two Leonberger dogs and several horses. The landscape masterplan, the first phase of which was implemented in 2023, focused on the main house and surrounding landscape. The full plan includes restoration of a quarry, reimagining the site into a series of trails, vantage points and program elements like a horse barn and maintenance area. Landscape design elements are used to integrate the building with site, with features including a wood “wharf” boardwalk that continues through the house, becoming a cantilevered deck on the river-site, and a courtyard garden with stonework that recalls a rocky riparian shoreline. A simple yet dramatic plant palette of native grasses and multi-stem birches evokes agrarian and river landscapes while softening the architectural moves. The landscape architects worked closely with the architects and builders to ensure the house was respectfully sited with a generous buffer from an existing watercourse, and preserves existing wooded areas – ensuring the integrity of a varied site for the property owner’s enjoyment and lifestyle.
