H+G Landscape

NO-LAWN LANDSCAPES WIN AWARDS FOR STYLISH SPACES AND FEATURES

Chicago area landscape architects Heynssens + Grassman, Inc. recognized in elite industry competition for two innovative home-landscape renovations.

Park City (Chicago area), IL, April 27, 2012 - Two residential landscape projects by Heynssens and Grassman, Inc. have won top awards from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), in the professional association's annual awards competition. The firm has earned 9 awards in the last 10 years for their high-caliber design, installation, and landscape maintenance services.



Winner of a 2012 ILCA Gold Award for landscape maintenance



Winner of a 2012 ILCA Gold Award for landscape construction

Both of the award-winning projects by Heynssens + Grassman showcase the growing trend toward no-lawn landscaping; taking out underused lawns in urban and suburban yards in order to develop interactive outdoor living areas and landscape amenities that can be used throughout the seasons.

The no-lawn landscaping trend is especially appealing to empty-nesters and other homeowners who see their landscapes as extensions of the home's living areas, but with enhanced durability, aesthetics, and lifestyle features built in. Because lawn areas usually comprise a good portion of a residential lot, re-claiming that space for other uses can offer many possibilities for outdoor entertaining or re-connecting with nature.

Although stylistically different, both award-winning projects were complete front-to-back renovations of suburban infill properties which required creative solutions for stormwater drainage, privacy concerns, tree preservation, as well as skillful arrangements of each homeowners' lists of amenities.

The project which won a Gold Award in the Residential Landscape Maintenance category has an international flair with clean, contemporary lines, textural planting schemes, and smooth stone paving in muted tones of grays and taupe. The home's panorama of windows look out to a raised pool and spa, cook station, firepit, and several outdoor art installations.

The project which won a Gold Award in the Residential Construction category began with the tear-down of the former house. The newly-built home completed in 2009 won a community Preservation Award for its compatibility with the neighborhood context; the site-specific design that takes advantage of light, views, and orientation; as well as its seamless integration with the outdoors. Among the many clever attributes, Heynssens + Grassman created a vintage two-track brick driveway with a mosaic of sedums planted in the center strip that would allow rain water to percolate down, instead of running off into municipal storm sewers. A large brick and stone patio, lush, colorful gardens, and a circular path around a decorative urn are other key features in the rear of the property.

Led by the husband and wife design team of Chris Heynssens and Rene (Grassman) Heynssens, the firm is also celebrating their 25th year in business as landscape architects and contractors on Chicago's northshore.

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The Company Heynssens + Grassman is a full-service landscape company offering design, installation and maintenance of properties throughout Chicago's northshore communities. The firm is a long-standing member of the ILCA, the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce. In addition to earning many awards, their work has been featured in the Garden Conservancy's Open Days summer tours, Architectural Digest magazine, Chicagoland Gardening magazine, West Suburban Living, and other publications.

The ILCA Awards
Judged by a diverse panel of landscape professionals and educators, the ILCA's award-winning projects showcase some of the Chicago area's most beautiful public and private gardens and outdoor spaces. The public is invited to view the traveling photo exhibition featuring all gold-award winning projects as it rotates between notable venues such as the Merchandise Mart, Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Cantigny, Chicago Flower & Garden Show, Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, Oak Park Conservatory, as well as quality retail garden centers.

 

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