The Wellspring transforms a 7,000-square-foot Saint Paul city lot into a four-season residential landscape that honors its Prairie Style home while reimagining how outdoor space can serve both family and community. By removing the conventional garage and driveway, the design creates a thoughtful social continuum – private wellness areas in the backyard including a wood-fired sauna and hot tub, and an inviting "people's patio" in front that opens to the neighborhood. The landscape flows seamlessly between hand-hewn materials: terra-cotta brick, local granite boulders, reclaimed fieldstone, ipe decking, Cor-Ten steel, and cedar – all complementing the home's natural palette.
Native trees, perennial grasses, and pollinator-friendly plantings establish year-round interest while requiring minimal maintenance. Integrated rain gardens and permeable paving replace traditional hardscaping, capturing rainfall on-site to protect nearby lakes and rivers. The result is a landscape that transcends typical residential design – nurturing personal wellbeing, strengthening community connections, and serving as a model for thoughtful urban design that delights residents and neighbors alike throughout all four Midwest seasons.