Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/812736
NEW HAMPSHIRE: First in the Nation • Profiles in Excellence 181 the vision, allowing for adjustments and feedback. He recalls a client who wanted to recreate their family home so that it included recreational options for their grown children as well as their grandchildren. "We created a pathway into the woods just far enough out so it was fun and adventurous for the grandkids, who barely had time to say hello to their grandparents once they arrived, because they'd immediately run down the path to a treasure chest the client had us incorporate into the design. She and her husband would put little surprises in there for each of the kids, from trinkets to handmade items. Once we understood what they wanted, we were able to add rocks and other 'hiding places' where the kids could hunt for their treasures," Pellettieri says. In the same way, Pellettieri has created havens that are centered around hobbies, such as gardening, or intimate seating areas where families or individuals can escape to enjoy quiet time, over coffee, a great book, or family gatherings. Pellettieri Associates also specialize in the big picture – which oen requires applying knowledge and understanding to our relationship with the world around us. "We did a design-build project on a hill in the Connecticut River Valley, one of those typical New Hampshire locations where, as you turned onto the field you had a spectacular river view and, in the distance were red barns and silos and cows in the field. e architect of the project came to us and said, 'the house goes right here.' It was a spot where the couple had once picnicked together and they imagined their home being in that particular spot, with this fantastic view," says Pellettieri. Aer studying the floor plan, Pellettieri suggested that the original orientation of the house be shied, expanding not only the original vision but capitalizing on the entire vista. A year aer the project was completed, Pellettieri revisited the client – as he oen does – and they told him that his adjustment to their original plan had made all the difference. "Instead of plopping the house into a field, we changed the connection of the house to the land by backing it into a stone wall and a line of trees, tying the house to the grounds – something the great masters of design like Frank Lloyd Wright used to do," Pellettieri says. "All of his buildings start with the marriage of a building to a site, and that's the beginning of landscape architecture." In terms of how landscape architecture has changed since he began in the business, Pellettieri says clients are much more focused on sustainability, with an eye on energy efficiency and the use of lasting materials. Other advancements, like permeable pavement, or regulatory changes such as the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, inform how they approach every project and provide environmental guidance that ultimately enhance a project's sustainability for generations to come. Whether creating an indoor space that extends the natural beauty of the outdoors to an inner space, or creating a one-of-a-kind family retreat or public space, Pellettieri says it all begins and ends with understanding our unique relationship with nature. Says Pelletieri, "For me, the unique challenges of New Hampshire's climate and the richness of its natural beauty and native elements are a big part of why, all these years later, we're still doing what we do in a place we love." v A 'pondless' water feature helps transition grade and provides soothing white noise between the two cut granite patios. An outdoor kitchen and attached pergola provide a relaxing space overlooking the pool, main water feature, and illuminated gardens and home. "True peace is the harmony between man and nature" – George Pellettieri, President.