When an architect and artist designed their own modern home on the banks of the Mississippi River, they envisioned a landscape that would honor both the building's clean lines and the powerful presence of the river itself. Sightlines became the organizing principle – a visual corridor extends from the river and front door straight through the home's interior and out the back, creating an uninterrupted view that connects the Mississippi to the backyard in one sweeping gesture. The landscape refuses to interrupt this carefully choreographed view, instead enhancing it with intentional layers that draw you through the space. A giant monolithic stone sculpture anchors the composition like an ancient river sentinel, its massive presence providing a dramatic backdrop that echoes the scale and permanence of the Mississippi.

Native plantings cover the property, chosen not just for their ecological benefits but for the way they move and shift through the seasons like the river itself. Earthen berms undulate across the site, mimicking the natural topography of riverbanks and creating gentle grade changes that feel inevitable rather than imposed. Chunky bluestone freestanding walls define spaces without blocking views, their substantial materiality grounding the modern architecture while allowing sightlines to flow freely. A low-mow fescue lawn reduces maintenance while maintaining the clean, open aesthetic the clients sought. The result is a landscape that achieves true balance – respecting the architect's vision, celebrating the artists' eye for composition, and deferring to the river that has shaped this land for millennia.