The title of this post conjures a hot summer’s day along the highway, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, slooowly advancing through a construction site where hot asphalt is being laid in a stinky, tarry, gravelly layer, then rolled flat and smooth with an enormous steel drum ballasted with water, pressing the roadway into submission. Paving. We’ve all witnessed it.
We’re not paving the driveway at Rosslyn. Nor is steaming asphalt a part of anything else that we’re doing at Rosslyn. But we are paving the sunken terrace of the icehouse’s new courtyard. To be more precise, we are laying hundreds upon hundreds of tumbled stone pavers, creating what will become a seamless carpet of stone.
In the weeks ahead, I will share updates as this project moves forward, but for now I will simply introduce this labor-intensive undertaking and the team making it happen.
I’ve drawn attention to the new stonewall terracing built from recycled material salvaged across our 17 years of Rosslyn rehab. The hardscape defines the exterior living space beyond the confines of Rosslyn’s small icehouse and deck. A couple of steps down from the garapa decking an exterior “floor” of stone pavers that will integrate the wooden structure with the landscape. Envisioned as a sort of partial courtyard, this enclosure, hunkering into the grade change will [hopefully] define an outdoor living environment that can be enjoyed and appreciated three out of four seasons each year. The landscaping and hardscaping work together to integrate the built environment with the natural environment in a manner consistent with the rest of the property’s timeless design. From waterfront to main house, upper lawn to barns, stonework spanning two centuries unifies the chapters of Rosslyn’s history. Paving this western terrace in a manner consistent with Rosslyn’s aesthetic while framing the courtyard for privacy and comfort depends in large part on the attention and execution of Tony, Aaron, and Pam. Successful installation of the stone pavers depends upon leveling the base course, tamping, leveling a finer substrate, tamping, re-leveling, and then installing stone-by-stone a mosaic of 6×6, 6×12, and 12×12 paving stones… It’s not an easy task, but paving achievements are super rewarding.
There are, I suspect, many moments when each of the collaborators on this project must wonder if they’d be more productive working by themselves. Teamwork can be trying. I understand this. And yet it’s precisely this creative tension that propels a project such as this toward a successful finish. Collaboration involves differences of opinion and perspective; disagreements over priorities, techniques, and aesthetics; and the inevitable frustrations that arise when resolution is not tidy or quickly apparent.
But collegiality and respect for one another are enduring and empowering among these three. Differences, when braided together, especially when energized with a robust work ethic, make magic happen. All three working on this project are exceptional and highly capable.
Thank you, Pam, Tony, and Aaron. I am proud of your progress. And I am eagerly anticipating your successful completion of the icehouse courtyard paving project.
Leave a Reply