Unique "Green" Elements Complete the Bald Eagle Lake Project

In our last blog, we continued to document the progress made on the Bald Eagle Lake property; we explained how permeable pavers, which are used extensively in this project, and rain gardens are effective ways to prevent excess water runoff from funneling into the near-by lake. We'll conclude the overview of this build by looking at a few unique features that not only make this landscape special, but also help save energy and protect the local ecology.

As we mentioned earlier, and in other blog posts, we worked closely with the local watershed to ensure that water from the house wouldn't drain into the adjacent lake. Along with our other lake-friendly features, we also had a rain barrel system built.

When it rains, the water on the roof flows into gutters that lead to a barrel; if the barrel overflows, the excess water will pour into a series of box containers. If those were to become full, the water would then run into the dry creek beds, which would, in turn, flow into the rain gardens; the water is then absorbed into the ground and never goes into the lake.

Another way to prevent water runoff from the roof is to have something there to absorb it – that's why having a green roof was an attractive option for this project. The addition of a green roof has become an increasingly more popular decision for home or business owners in the last 3-4 years. They're not only energy efficient but also aesthetically unique, and are very low maintenance.

All the plants for the green roof are grown in trays, which simply get dropped into place and snapped together on the roof after the preliminary work is complete. The plants are all ground cover succulent varieties, with a maximum growth height of two inches. We use plants that are Zone 4 hardy (the hardiness zone for this region), which need only minimal weeding, can withstand the full scorching sun, and require little water. A green roof is truly a hassle free solution with enormous benefits.

There is very little that is conventional about this project – from the modern architecture of the house to the distinctive landscaping – so why would the fire pit be any different. We rethought the concept of a fire pit and created a fire table. With just a flick of the switch, the gas-powered fire starts right up, and puts off enough heat for comfortable lounging when the evenings get crisp. The fire table is not only a great place to gather but is also a captivating and pleasing feature of the landscape. When paired with the rain barrel, its adds another sculptural element to the space, and complements the many types of sculpture throughout the property.

It was a pleasure to work on such a unique project that offered a variety of challenges and a diversity of components. We were proud to have been able to show our work during the AIA Minnesota "Homes by Architects" tour, as well as the Parade of Homes, this past September. We received great feedback from our peers and the community for this project and couldn't be prouder of the end result!