When Pristine Acres first met with the owners of this McLean, Virginia, property to discuss the clients’ vision, they encountered a steep, undulating hillside dotted with craters and stumps where massive trees once grew. The homeowners hoped to take the unusable yard and turn it into the outdoor entertaining area of their dreams, culling inspiration from their own Chilean heritage. “We knew there had to be a boldness to the design while remaining warm and inviting with an underlying sense of being natural,” relays landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek.

The master plan included the addition of a large infinity pool overlooking the forested environs. Pretty and practical, the design utilized white marble coping for the border of the pool that provides contrast in the design but also stays cool to the touch during those hot summer days. An oversized pavilion and expanded deck that can hold up to 180 people round out the plan. Open and airy, the modern pavilion features a unique cantilevered roofline, giving the appearance of almost floating over an entertaining hub that includes a kitchen, bar, sitting area with a television and a gas fire feature. Says Kurdziolek, “We knew from the beginning that the structure needed to be a very special anchor in the design for the space to work as a whole.”

Award: Residential Landscape Design over $250,000. Landscape Architecture & Construction: Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA; Rambod Mirbaha, Pristine Acres. Automation: Trizone Automation.