Escape Into History

Rumsey Estate Home Landscape Revitalization

Designed by Charles Coolidge, who also designed Stanford University and the Chicago Public Library, this Lake Forest estate home is a near copy of the Clifford manor in Warwickshire, England. Briefly owned by Henry Rumsey (Lake Forest mayor from 1919-1925 and a career tradesman), it is now the home to a couple with a multi-generational family nearby. The clients wished to bring the property back to its original vision by reviving its landscape features using modern day materials and practices. The goal was for it to be enjoyed by the family and numerous public groups who appreciate amazing gardens.

The ongoing construction effort of the nearby ravine meant the landscape crew and other tradesmen working onsite had limited access to the estate, so crews were shuttled in from a remote staging area. The collaboration included specialists across multiple disciplines—engineering, landscape design, tree removal, construction, landscape construction, and surveying. Once onsite, the crews worked to improve accessibility, add additional rooms, as well as redesign and regrade the main lawn. A pool was added alongside an adjoining spa and grotto. An adjacent fountain is encircled by blushing pink begonias. A large bluestone deck was built to connect multiple spaces along the property, becoming the ideal location to host gatherings. Farther along the edges of the property is a basketball and sports court that awaits a game.

Attention was then devoted to the grounds immediately surrounding the house, whereupon it was discovered that the foundation of the estate contained numerous cracks that required immediate repair. Standard excavation techniques were deemed to be too disturbing to the surrounding area, so trenches were dug by hand over a period of months. Upon completion, the landscape was reimagined with new plant species that performed better in the property’s shady conditions. The team also took special care to infuse quiet spaces into the premises. These include stunning ravine overlooks, a serene koi pond, and a crushed bluestone network of trails beneath the canopy of surrounding trees.

Historic Ravine Restoration

The other half of this story lies in a majestic ravine made unstable by a century of development in the area. Where it had taken nature 14,000 years to carve a ravine to the depth of 20 feet, it had taken man just 20 years to cause the erosion of an additional five. The destabilization of the ravine made it a candidate in desperate need of redress, but traditional methods of ravine remediation were unsightly and unnatural in appearance. The proposal to correct the ravine while restoring its natural qualities included studying ideal rivers for inspiration, specialized technical knowledge, and reverence for its original 1912 location. In contrast, the “Ravine Restored” project, a historic estate located in Lake Forest, IL, is a twenty-year, monumental ravine restoration. This project is a quintessential, classic American estate originally conceived by legend Jens Jenson. An updated design was created by Kettlekamp & Kettlecamp which was then redesigned and constructed by Rocco Fiore and Steve Fiore and their team at Rocco Fiore and Sons, now part of Mariani Landscape. The combined Mariani Landscape team was responsible for the final details and maintenance of this property.

Immediate action was taken to begin work in the area, but the size of the ravine required the use of special means just to get teams down to work. A dual-use ramp and chute was constructed from the driveway of the nearby estate to the ravine, while the team at the bottom created a pump system to take water downstream, maintaining continuous water flow. A narrow-cab excavator, custom-built for this project, assisted in heavy removals and replacements.

Once situated, the team began with removing trees and invasive brush to allow more sunlight through to native plants. Stone-filled gabion baskets, catch basins for run-off, and bio-degradable erosion blankets were incorporated into the ravine to prevent further destabilization, then buried with layers of packed clay. Oats were seeded in the topsoil layer for their tendency to root quickly and tie the soil together. The streambed was raised and widened, with riffle boulders added to help dissipate water flow, and protected with natural stones and boulders.

At the end of the project, the ravine had been redirected to the path it took 100 years before. Native trees were replanted and joined with mid-story shrubs and perennials. The final touches came from Jens Jensen’s original plans for the area, which allowed the ravine to be accessed safely and freely by visitors. Pathways, bridges, and a Jensen-style council ring (modeled after the one at his own home) were knitted throughout the finished site. At the project’s completion, the team had used 38 thousand shrubs and perennials and 7.5 million pounds of stone and soil.

Today the restored ravine and landscape areas not only accommodate the needs of a multi-generational family, but they also serve as a location for a multitude of public events: walks, garden tours, fund-raisers, and celebrations. It’s a gem in the community, a restoration blueprint for others, and a welcome escape for all who set foot in the space.

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