Set on a vacant block with challenging level changes, this newly built home in Exeter required a full site response — from the verge and driveway to guest parking and the garden’s relationship to the architecture.

A strong axial layout extends from the rear patio, anchored by a water feature and rill that serve as both a focal point and a backdrop visible from the dining and living rooms inside. At the front, an elevated entertaining lawn sits level with the house, offering a generous outlook over the surrounding garden.

On a lower terrace, a grove of birch trees and sweeping perennial planting frame a series of lawn paths, leading to a private seating area tucked into the landscape. A glass conservatory, set near the vegetable garden, offers a quiet breakout space. Dry stone walls are used throughout the garden to navigate the terrain, define zones, and add texture and permanence to the design.