Hardscapes - The Bones
- Oct 25, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Hardscapes include the built elements that give structure and definition to outdoor spaces - such as stone walls and stairs, patios, and walkways. These features provide form, function, and durability, serving as the architectural bones of a landscape. Thoughtfully designed hardscapes establish circulation, organize space, and complement the surrounding natural environment.
Dry Hardscape Systems: Dry hardscape systems do not have concrete footings, foundations, or bases, nor do they incorporate mortared setting beds or grout joints to bond units together. They require less excavation and allow for a portion of stormwater runoff to infiltrate the soils beneath them. Although generally less expensive to install, dry hardscape systems typically require more maintenance over time. Examples include stone walls and slab steps, patios and walkways, stepping stones, boulder work, and more. It should be noted that building units - like flagstone pavers - need to be thicker in dry-laid settings.
Wet Hardscape Systems: Wet hardscape systems may include concrete footings, foundations, and slabs, and incorporate mortared setting beds with grout joints between units. They do not allow for the infiltration of stormwater runoff and may trigger the requirement for drainage engineering. They are more labor intensive, take longer to build, and are costly up-front but, built correctly, require less maintenance over time. Examples include stone walls and stairs, patios and walkways, outdoor kitchens and bars, and more. Building units - such as stone veneer on an outdoor kitchen - can be thinner in wet hardscape systems because they are fixed to a solid base that does not move.
Native Materials: Using native materials for hardscapes - such as local stone, brick, or timber - anchors a landscape in regional character, durability, and ecological harmony. In New England, where freeze-thaw cycles, seasonal precipitation, and variable soils pose unique challenges, locally sourced stone and materials are naturally suited to the climate, reducing the risk of cracking, shifting, or weathering over time. Beyond performance, native materials connect the design to its historical and cultural context, echoing centuries of local craftsmanship and landscape tradition. When integrated thoughtfully into patios, retaining walls, pathways, or pool surrounds, they offer timeless texture, color, and scale, creating landscapes that feel both resilient and authentically rooted in place.
Non-Native Materials: Non-native materials often underperform in New England landscapes because they are not naturally adapted to the region’s freeze-thaw cycles, heavy winter precipitation, and variable soils. Imported stone, concrete, or timber may be prone to cracking, spalling, or shifting over time, leading to costly repairs and shortened lifespan. Additionally, differences in thermal expansion, porosity, and moisture absorption can exacerbate wear, especially when used in high-traffic areas like patios, pool decks, or retaining walls. Beyond durability, non-native materials may feel out of place visually, clashing with the historical and ecological context of the landscape.
Patios & Walkways: Patios and walkways - in a landscape - are analogous rooms and hallways in a house. Whereas rooms in a structure are clearly defined by ceilings, floors, and walls, landscape rooms are more ambiguous and open to interpretation. Patios are highly customizable and can suit a vast range of uses - from entertainment and dining areas, to kitchens and bars, poolside lounge areas, fire pit gathering places, and more. Patios can be square - expressing the formal lines of a client's home into the landscape - or gestural and curvaceous, connecting with the landscape beyond. Patios connect people to place, extending the use and utility of an owner's home to the outdoors.
Stoops & Stairs: Stoops and stairs are architectural extensions of a building, designed to facilitate entry and egress while complementing the structure’s form and materials. They are typically formal in character and well-lit for safety. Because they are attached directly to the building, their foundations must extend to the same depth as the building’s footings; the surrounding soils are typically disturbed from excavation and cannot adequately support heavy masonry systems. For safety compliance, handrails are required on any stairway with four or more risers.
Stone Walls: Stone walls are among the most defining and enduring features of the New England landscape - serving both functional and aesthetic purposes for centuries. Historically, they were built from fieldstone unearthed during land clearing and used to mark property boundaries, contain livestock, and terrace uneven terrain. Today, stone walls remain integral to landscape architecture, with retaining walls that stabilize grades, sitting walls that define outdoor rooms, and accent walls that lend visual structure and permanence. Whether wet or dry, each wall expresses craftsmanship and connection to place, grounding the landscape in both history and material honesty. In luxury settings, stone walls offer timeless texture, balance, and a sense of continuity between built form and natural terrain.
