The slope of the runnel follows the changing topography of the site, weaving in and out between plantings.
A sloped property in McLean had experienced severe flooding from stormwater runoff. A French drain did not adequately solve the issue—and left an ugly cleft in the earth to boot. Looking for a balance between functional infrastructure and beautiful design, the homeowners turned to Moody Graham. “They envisioned a garden that would embrace wabi-sabi—the Japanese mindset of finding beauty in life’s imperfections,” relates landscape architect Mila Antova.
The eventual plan utilized underground pipes to channel runoff down into a series of rain gardens. “The focal point of the landscape is a curvilinear Corten steel runnel that resembles a mountain stream,” says Antova. “The runnel weaves between the plants and the ground, drawing your eye through the garden.”
Landscape Architecture: Mila Antova, ASLA; Avantika Dalal and Allison Fields, project designers, Moody Graham Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Oldetowne Landscape Architects.