Smith Ridge Garden

The Arbor of Myriad Reflections Man’ei-tei 万映亭

New Canaan, CT

   The Japanese tea garden is a simple, unadorned path that acts as an entryway to the teahouse. The teahouse is a place for quiet reflection and the enjoyment of the subtle changes of the seasons. A stepping stone path slows the cadence of the person entering, making the journey seem longer. Gates mark the passage from the day-to-day world outside to a timeless one within.

   The existing stream on the property, which had been channelized, was restored to its natural state using boulders and native plantings. The pool terrace includes an embedded wooden deck and an oval wisteria arbor. The entrance to the main residence features twin "yin-yang" courts with stone and thyme paving.