Efficient Design, Efficient Living

The development at 4503 Frederick Avenue maximizes return by returning to simple design solutions and the beauty of nature

 

Frederick Avenue

Necessity is the mother of invention. That fact is illustrated at 4503 Frederick Avenue. The narrow, sloping site turns challenges into elegantly tailored design solutions, limiting impervious area, maximizing open space, and casting a vision for life on this sliver of Baltimore real estate that encourages a return to natural way of living.

Location: Baltimore, MD
Completed: Ongoing
Size: 8 Acres
Budget: $5 Million
Services: Landscape Architecture

Living on the Land

4503 embraces the idea that living lightly is living completely. The site boasts a sustainable approach to design that makes the most of every material, ever SF of building, and every inch of landscape. The site landscape emphasizes native, naturalized species as well as edible species in the form of a foraging garden

Open space comes at a premium on this narrow Baltimore City site. The Frederick Avenue frontage emphasizes native and naturalized plantings in a landscape designed to move people to the building and water around it in a series of fluid geometries, contrasting the simple, orthogonal volumes of the architecture. Valuable outdoor space is found at the elevated courtyard in the center of the building. The west facing roof garden provides formal seating as well as a covered terrace which extends the use of the buildings common area.

Walkways wrap the building, descending to the rear garden which boasts two modestly sized lawn spaces wrapped in a horticultural display as functional as it is beautiful. 

Traditional & Foraging Gardens

The landscape strategy for the project emphasizes a return to nature, incorporating both traditional and foraging styled gardens. Elevated garden plots are located adjacent to the outdoor kitchen, providing residents the opportunity to grow crops in a controlled setting. The site perimeter and lower garden employ a foraging strategy, emphasizing Maryland hardy, low maintenance plants that add value whether harvested, as pollinators, or simply for their beauty.

Traditional Garden Plant List
  • Arugula
  • Green Beans
  • Beets
  • Red Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Fennel
  • Figs
  • Mustard greens
  • Red Lettuce
  • Nasturtiums
  • Onions
  • Pears
  • Peppermint
  • Green Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Squash
Foraging Garden Plant List
  • Apples
  • Blueberries
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Ostrich Fern
  • Service Berry
  • Mint
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Cherries
  • Calendula
  • Raspberries
  • Plums