Berkshire Lakeside

Berkshire Lakeside was designed and built while SFLA Pricipal Chris Ramage was working for Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design. This stunning property is nestled into a steep hillside in the Berkshires, and the terrain was embraced as a driving design force. Outdoor living spaces are arranged around the house in 3 terraces, separated by dense, layered plantings and connected with natural granite staircases. Perched on the edge of the middle terrace is an overlook patio offering views of the lake and the gardens sweeping down to it. In a previously underused area of the lower terrace, plantings now define a garden room holding a custom, sunken firepit and offering impressive views back towards the house. An overwhelmingly native plant palette was used to create distinct, naturalistic plant communities for each of the terraces. Plantings were designed to provide a kaleidoscope of color, texture, and form that evolves with the seasons. The landscape doubles in function by supporting this family's indoor-outdoor lifestyle, while also providing productive habitat for the insects, birds, and other wildlife that calls this corner of the Berkshires home.

Project Location: Monterey, Massachusetts

Landscape Architect: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Architects

Architect: Studio 36

Interior Designer: Jess Cooney Interiors

Landscape Contractor: R.P. Marzilli

General Contractor: Alander Construction

Photography: Overlook Photo