Drawing on the tradition of the Berkshires as a retreat, our design seeks to evoke the salon tradition, offering a space for gathering during the day with ample seating meant to inspire conversation between returning friends and new acquaintances, whether while waiting for a tour to depart or enjoying a treat from the cafe. The space is meant to be open and inviting, with the noise from Route 2 diminished by a carefully considered perennial planting that attracts birds and butterflies to visit, with gravel and non-linear benches to encourage a slower, meandering pace through the garden. As a refuge for both people and pollinators, the space is meant to be a regenerative moment that encourages curiosity while leading visitors into the gardens.
Using a holistic approach to noise mitigation, blocking and masking, we are proposing a dense planting along Route 2 in place of the suggested earth berm. A wall of Japanese cryptomeria, often used as a windbreak and a privacy screen, serves as a strong diffuser of sound. It is backed here by the densely branched and bird-attracting sweet plum tree and cranberry viburnum, followed by sound attenuating and producing grasses and dense juniper groundcover.