WATER POINT RESIDENCE
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
PROJECT STATUS | IN PROGRESS
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Located in Water Point, an exclusive residential community on the East End of St. Thomas near The Ritz-Carlton, the site was developed for a three-bedroom residence designed by architect Scott Natvig of S.A.N.D., Los Angeles.
We were commissioned to design and engineer soil and planters for the driveway, pool terrace, and intermediate spaces—including a long linear planter running alongside the lap pool to eliminate the need for railings. Our scope also included developing a planting scheme suited to the site, drawing inspiration from the architect’s preliminary renderings, which conveyed an ideal of wild, dense landscape.
SITE CONDITIONS
Facing south, the site had been repeatedly battered by storms, leaving little soil cover and making it challenging to establish a dense coastal woodland from scratch. Along the cliff, the existing landscape reflected the dry, cactus-dominated ecology of the area, with wind-swept stands of Coccoloba diversifolia, Melocactus intortus, Philocereus royenii, Lantana involucrata, and Jacquinia berterii, among other drought- and salt-tolerant species.
EXISTING SITE PLAN
The site presented multiple constraints, including steep slopes, superficial bedrock, and setback requirements. The proposed central driveway was both uncomfortably steep for walking and would have destroyed the only stand of mature trees—small in size but old and difficult to replace. To preserve this grove, we proposed shifting the driveway to the eastern setback, where only cacti were present, reducing grade changes and minimizing impact.
The rendering illustrates the substantial retaining wall required to carry the original central driveway to the building’s fixed finish floor elevation. While 40–50% slopes are not unusual in St. Thomas, they create unnecessary challenges and should be avoided whenever possible.
DRIVEWAY OPTIONS
Driveway Options Several concepts were developed to balance environmental conservation with functional design. Each explored ways to slow stormwater runoff, reduce soil erosion, preserve existing trees and native species, and maintain pedestrian accessibility.
The first option bent the proposed driveway slightly to save a large tree, but it remained too steep for pedestrian use and still impacted many native species. To improve access, we added an ADA ramp on one side and steps on the other, offering a walkable path from the cul-de-sac above.
The second option reused the original arrival turnaround, relocating the carport to the opposite side to create a longer, more accessible driveway. While this preserved additional trees, it still introduced extensive paving at the main entrance, which was not ideal.
The third option proposed a shorter driveway with gentler slopes, opening the possibility of a garden behind the residence. This approach saved existing trees and reduced the albedo effect by limiting impermeable surfaces.
The fourth option, ultimately chosen by the owner, was further refined in the final drawings. It worked with the natural topography and introduced steps from the carport to the house, minimizing earth movement while achieving both function and balance.
DRIVEWAY REVISIONS
In a later revision by S.A.N.D., the driveway was shortened but made steeper. Our drawings illustrate the resulting retaining wall heights that would be required if this grading plan were adopted. To soften their impact, small planters could be introduced in key areas. The scheme also incorporates a long, visually appealing flight of steps and relocates the carport, while maintaining the original building position and finish floor elevation as desired.
CONCEPT PLANTING SKETCH
The site is shaped into four garden areas: a shaded north garden, linear poolside planters with coastal shrubs, an east rock garden with drought-tolerant species, and a small west garden to soften the property edge. Notes on the drawing address planter permeability, flush conditions, and species selection to ensure both constructibility and long-term performance.
CONCEPT IMAGERY
A series of reference images guided the planting vision, illustrating the textures, colors, and forms suited to the site’s conditions. The palette combines palms, succulents, and cacti with flowering shrubs and coastal trees, evoking a dense, resilient landscape that balances structure with seasonal interest.
PRELIMINARY PLANTING DESIGN
The project remains in progress, pending an updated tree survey to identify existing specimens to be preserved and integrated before finalizing the planting plans. Current proposals include a preliminary list of smaller trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, complemented by reference images shared with the owners to illustrate the palette and gather feedback prior to developing final construction drawings.
