SOUTH DUXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
Coastal Retreat
A sequence of spaces oriented toward the water — open, calm, and continuous.
LOCATION
South Duxbury, Massachusetts
PROJECT TYPE
Residential Landscape
Design + Build
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OVERVIEW
A family with a coastal property in South Duxbury wanted their outdoor environment to reflect what the land already offered — an unobstructed orientation toward the water, a long view across the bay, and the particular quality of light that arrives in the late afternoon from the southwest.
The property had been partially shaped over time but without a clear organising idea. Individual elements existed independently — a terrace here, a lawn there — without a sense of sequence or direction. The potential of the site had never been fully realised.
The central question became: how do you design a landscape that moves with intention from the home to the water — so that every space feels like a deliberate step toward the view?
THE LAND
The site slopes gradually from the home toward the water, offering a natural sequence of elevation that had not been used to full advantage. Coastal conditions — salt air, wind exposure, and sandy soil — shaped every material and planting decision. The best views were not from the home itself but from the lower portion of the property, where the land opens toward the bay.
Rather than treating the slope as a challenge to be levelled, it became the organising logic of the design — a natural progression of spaces descending from the private to the open, from shelter to exposure.
THE DESIGN
The landscape is organised as a sequence of connected outdoor rooms, each one oriented toward the water and calibrated for a different use and degree of exposure. The upper terrace nearest the home is sheltered and private. A middle level provides a covered dining and gathering area. The lower lawn opens fully to the view and the breeze.
Movement through the property follows the natural grade — gradual, intuitive, and purposeful. At each level, the view is framed differently. The goal was not to create a series of separate spaces but a single continuous experience from the door to the water's edge.
KEY ELEMENTS
Bluestone terracing at the upper level — a material selected for its relationship to the coastal palette and its durability in salt-air conditions
Covered outdoor dining structure at the middle level — sheltered from prevailing winds while maintaining the view corridor to the bay
Native coastal planting along the property edges — grasses, low shrubs, and salt-tolerant species that naturalize over time and reinforce the connection to the surrounding landscape
MATERIALS & CRAFT
Bluestone was selected for its cool tone and its ability to weather gracefully in coastal conditions — developing a surface over time that feels native to the setting rather than applied to it. Timber detailing in the covered structure was chosen for how it ages in salt air, silvering gradually to match the surrounding dune grasses and weathered fencing of the neighbourhood.
Every material decision was made with the understanding that the coast accelerates weathering. What was selected had to improve with age, not deteriorate.
LIVING IN THE SPACE
Morning coffee happens on the upper terrace, where the home provides shelter and the first light arrives from the east. Midday moves to the covered structure — shaded, breezy, oriented toward the water. Evening gatherings migrate to the lower lawn as the sun drops behind the home and the view opens fully across the bay.
The property is used year-round. The covered structure extends the season into late autumn. The lower lawn, sheltered from the north by planting, is usable well into October.
“We are thankful to have chosen Ivy Studio for our project. You turned a challenging and underused space into a beautifully connected outdoor retreat with so many thoughtful details.”
A landscape shaped by its orientation — designed so every step moves closer to the water.