'Outdoor environments' refer to anything we've designed and/or built that are detached from the mother ship or, perhaps, attached to the outside of the building's exterior walls. Although we've included a small sampling of project photos below, we've also designed and/or built:
- Permaculture landscapes for vegetable and fruit production (we have a certified permaculturist on staff!)
- Rain gardens (mini-bioswales that allow stormwater to naturally infiltrate into the ground)
- An emu barn!
- Countless decks, trellises, arbors, fences, ramps, gazebos and gates
- Pervious and impervious driveways, walkways and patios
- Firepits and water features
- Xeriscaping (native, drought-resistant, lawn-free landscaping requiring little or no pesticides, herbicides, watering or mowing)
- Varied hardscaping projects (i.e. Allen Block retaining walls; natural rock walls; timber retaining walls; stormwater drainage systems for steep lots; stairways; etc.)
- Readerboard structures like the one at our office building!
- Various hot tubs settings (i.e. built in; covered; etc.)
An outrageous deck on an extremely steep Alabama Hill lot in Bellingham
Challenge: make use of an extremely steep back yard that had been unusable since the home was built decades earlier. Not only was the grade a challenge but the yard was full of mature trees, each of which we wanted to save.
Solution: built a multi-level deck along with a built-in, covered hot tub.
Aspects we performed: construction only.
Client name: privacy requested.
Client address: privacy requested.
A pervious driveway that protects Lake Whatcom -- Whatcom County's watershed
Challenge: replace a rather long, old, impervious asphalt driveway on a sloping hillside along the shore of Lake Whatcom with a green product that wouldn't degrade the lake’s water quality. The homeowner was driven to be a steward of our water supply and wanted a pervious driveway to replace the impervious version.
Solution: provide a pervious driveway using EcoStone blocks atop an engineered gravel substrate. Note the perimeter which is stabilized by a poured footing and short pony wall; course sand provides the infill between the blocks.
Aspects we performed: construction only. The design and engineering was done by 2020 Engineering in Bellingham.
Client name: Tom Pratum and Sally Hewitt
Client address: 2241 North Shore Road, Bellingham
“After building my house on Lake Whatcom, I decided to remove a pre-existing asphalt driveway and replace it with a more pervious, permeable surface. I contacted Chris Webb of 2020 Engineering to discuss the project, and he drew up the design and specifications. When it came to who I might employ to demolish the old driveway and construct the new one, Chris immediately suggested A-1. This was not a trivial project: the driveway was relatively steep and lined with large trees that I wished to preserve in their “pre-construction” state. Additionally, the driveway was the sole vehicular access for 3 residences, and the project had the definite potential to cause some hard feelings among neighbors. Being near the lakeshore, I was also concerned with the use of polluting materials, and desired that they would be minimized in the project, and that minimal sediment would be washed into the lake. Given the scope of the work, I felt that Rick Dubrow gave a reasonable bid and time estimate for the project. The work itself was completed close to “on-time” and within the estimated budget. Rick was also helpful in dealing with inevitable inter-neighbor project related issues. Additionally, I feel that A-1 Builders employees provided excellent workmanship, and were especially pleasant to deal with. This experience, along with the environmental leadership I have seen the company demonstrate, allow me to recommend them without reservation.” – Tom PratumXeriscaping: no lawn and the virtual elimination of watering, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers!
Challenge: at our own office and showroom, we eliminated all of the lawn which surrounded the building and replaced it with an environmentally responsible and low maintenance example of hardscaping and landscaping. This technique of utilizing native and drought-resistant specimens is called xeriscaping.
Solution: these environmental goals virtually eliminated the inclusion of flowers and the vibrant colors they bring to the table! So we focused instead on texture and the addition of an imaginary creek bed under the readerboard to add some three dimensional aspects to the ultimate design.
Aspects we performed: we were the clients (although Rick's son Orin removed all of the lawn himself!)! Designed and installed by Scott Mauermann of Laurel Landscaping.
Client name: A-1 Builders and Adaptations
Client address: 3310 Northwest Avenue, Bellingham
Customize a relatively new, plain-Jane condo with an attractive Northwest trellis and three additional decks
Challenge: Although there is a great view to the west, the existing outdoor environment did not take advantage of it. What magic could we bring to their outside space?
Solution:This trellis, along with several decks, did the trick, offering the homeowners and their guests a natural invitation to the great outdoors!
Aspects we performed: design and construction
Client name: Privacy requested.
Client address: Privacy requested.
