top of page
LAURELHURST RESIDENCE
This residential project began with a naturalistic stream incorporating natural rock and custom hand-carved bridges that created pathways throughout the landscape. Impressed by the craftsmanship and creativity of the work, the architect brought us back to take on an entirely different challenge - a custom rock climbing wall inside the children's bedroom, climbing upward to a loft above.
We finished the project by creating a facade inspired by the timeless world of The Lord of the Rings, transforming the basement entrance into a remarkably detailed Hobbit-hole setting.
Structure Beneath the Surface
Every lasting water feature begins with a solid foundation. These early stages of construction reveal the extensive plumbing, reinforcing steel, and structural framework that go into building each feature. Beneath the artistic rockwork and natural appearance is a carefully engineered structure designed for strength, durability, and decades of performance.
Building the Natural Flow
With the structural shotcrete shell completely and fully waterproofed, natural rock is carefully placed to shape the stream's character and flow. This is where engineered strength begins to disappear beneath a natural landscape, creating a water feature built to last while looking as though it belongs there.
Engineering Becomes Artistry
Carved concrete is added around the natural stone to permanently lock each piece into the stream and create realistic underwater textures and contours. The same hand crafted process shapes one of a kind stone bridges, seamlessly blending structure and artistry into a feature designed to look and feel naturally formed.
Water in Motion
The finished stream comes to life as water gently curls around the natural stone, spilling from one level to the next. With the surrounding landscape growing right to the water's edge, the stream becomes part of the environment- blending stone, water, and planting into a seamless, living landscape.
A Seemless Part of the Landscape
The completed stream flows naturally alongside the home and staircase, seamlessly connecting the architecture with the surrounding landscape. Lush plantings frame the rockwork as water cascades over the final waterfall and settles into a quiet pond below - creating a feature that feels as though it has always belonged there.
A Climb to Discovery
Turnstone transformed an ordinary children's room into an imaginative adventure, sculpting a custom rock climbing wall that leads to a loft designed for exploration and discovery. The hand crafted rock work adds a playful, natural element to the room while creating a unique space for kids to climb, explore, and let their imaginations run wild.
Climbing into Discovery
The finished climbing wall becomes an interactive part of the room, giving children a unique way to reach the loft above. With every handhold and contour carefully sculpted into the rock, the wall combines craftsmanship, imagination, and function to create an experience that turns the journey upward into a part of the adventure
Reaching the Loft
The climb reaches its destination as one child makes the final ascent to the loft, while another enjoys the space above with a good book. The sculpted rock wall creates a natural connection between the two levels, turning the climb itself into an integral part of the room's design and a unique area for exploration and discovery.
One Door to Rule Them All
This conceptual drawing captures the beginning of a unique transformation- A Lord of the Rings- inspired hobbit hole facade designed for the lower level entrance of the home. The concept was developed to blend the existing architecture with handcrafted rockwork and natural forms, creating an entrance that feels as though it belongs in a storybook landscape.
Textures of Middle Earth
Before the construction began, Turnstone created a series of full scale texture samples to develop the different wood, stone, and surface elements needed for the facade. These samples allowed the details, textures, and character of the finished hobbit hole entrance to be refined before being brought together into the final creation
Built for a Hobbit
The completed Hobbit Hole facade stands in striking contrast to the unfinished home surrounding it, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into every detail. Round window frames and a custom circular doorway establish the unmistakable character of the entrance, while ornate wood is sculpted into the massive concrete eyebrow overhead. The sweeping structure not only frames the entrance but cleverly conceals a planter, combining imaginative design with practical function.
Welcome to the Shire
With the home complete and the landscape fully planted, the Hobbit Hole facade becomes the magical centerpiece it was designed to be. Surrounded by lush greenery, natural textures, and carefully crafted architectural details, the finished entrance feels less like an addition to the house and more like a doorway into another world.
The Complete Picture
The completed home brings together architecture, handcrafted shotcrete work, lush landscaping, and water in one seamless setting. The Hobbit Hole entrance anchors the lower level while the water feature winds through the walkway creating a landscape that feels both natural and entirely unique.
A World of its Own
From the home itself, the gardens, the water feature, and the handcrafted hobbit hole entrance, every element was designed to work together as one cohesive setting. The finished result transforms the back of the property into an immersive environment where architecture, nature, and Turnstone's artistry come together.
Structure Beneath the Surface
Every lasting water feature begins with a solid foundation. These early stages of construction reveal the extensive plumbing, reinforcing steel, and structural framework that go into building each feature. Beneath the artistic rockwork and natural appearance is a carefully engineered structure designed for strength, durability, and decades of performance.
Building the Natural Flow
With the structural shotcrete shell completely and fully waterproofed, natural rock is carefully placed to shape the stream's character and flow. This is where engineered strength begins to disappear beneath a natural landscape, creating a water feature built to last while looking as though it belongs there.
Engineering Becomes Artistry
Carved concrete is added around the natural stone to permanently lock each piece into the stream and create realistic underwater textures and contours. The same hand crafted process shapes one of a kind stone bridges, seamlessly blending structure and artistry into a feature designed to look and feel naturally formed.
Water in Motion
The finished stream comes to life as water gently curls around the natural stone, spilling from one level to the next. With the surrounding landscape growing right to the water's edge, the stream becomes part of the environment- blending stone, water, and planting into a seamless, living landscape.
A Seemless Part of the Landscape
The completed stream flows naturally alongside the home and staircase, seamlessly connecting the architecture with the surrounding landscape. Lush plantings frame the rockwork as water cascades over the final waterfall and settles into a quiet pond below - creating a feature that feels as though it has always belonged there.
A Climb to Discovery
Turnstone transformed an ordinary children's room into an imaginative adventure, sculpting a custom rock climbing wall that leads to a loft designed for exploration and discovery. The hand crafted rock work adds a playful, natural element to the room while creating a unique space for kids to climb, explore, and let their imaginations run wild.
Climbing into Discovery
The finished climbing wall becomes an interactive part of the room, giving children a unique way to reach the loft above. With every handhold and contour carefully sculpted into the rock, the wall combines craftsmanship, imagination, and function to create an experience that turns the journey upward into a part of the adventure
Reaching the Loft
The climb reaches its destination as one child makes the final ascent to the loft, while another enjoys the space above with a good book. The sculpted rock wall creates a natural connection between the two levels, turning the climb itself into an integral part of the room's design and a unique area for exploration and discovery.
One Door to Rule Them All
This conceptual drawing captures the beginning of a unique transformation- A Lord of the Rings- inspired hobbit hole facade designed for the lower level entrance of the home. The concept was developed to blend the existing architecture with handcrafted rockwork and natural forms, creating an entrance that feels as though it belongs in a storybook landscape.
Textures of Middle Earth
Before the construction began, Turnstone created a series of full scale texture samples to develop the different wood, stone, and surface elements needed for the facade. These samples allowed the details, textures, and character of the finished hobbit hole entrance to be refined before being brought together into the final creation
Built for a Hobbit
The completed Hobbit Hole facade stands in striking contrast to the unfinished home surrounding it, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into every detail. Round window frames and a custom circular doorway establish the unmistakable character of the entrance, while ornate wood is sculpted into the massive concrete eyebrow overhead. The sweeping structure not only frames the entrance but cleverly conceals a planter, combining imaginative design with practical function.
Welcome to the Shire
With the home complete and the landscape fully planted, the Hobbit Hole facade becomes the magical centerpiece it was designed to be. Surrounded by lush greenery, natural textures, and carefully crafted architectural details, the finished entrance feels less like an addition to the house and more like a doorway into another world.
The Complete Picture
The completed home brings together architecture, handcrafted shotcrete work, lush landscaping, and water in one seamless setting. The Hobbit Hole entrance anchors the lower level while the water feature winds through the walkway creating a landscape that feels both natural and entirely unique.
A World of its Own
From the home itself, the gardens, the water feature, and the handcrafted hobbit hole entrance, every element was designed to work together as one cohesive setting. The finished result transforms the back of the property into an immersive environment where architecture, nature, and Turnstone's artistry come together.
Structure Beneath the Surface
Every lasting water feature begins with a solid foundation. These early stages of construction reveal the extensive plumbing, reinforcing steel, and structural framework that go into building each feature. Beneath the artistic rockwork and natural appearance is a carefully engineered structure designed for strength, durability, and decades of performance.
Building the Natural Flow
With the structural shotcrete shell completely and fully waterproofed, natural rock is carefully placed to shape the stream's character and flow. This is where engineered strength begins to disappear beneath a natural landscape, creating a water feature built to last while looking as though it belongs there.
Engineering Becomes Artistry
Carved concrete is added around the natural stone to permanently lock each piece into the stream and create realistic underwater textures and contours. The same hand crafted process shapes one of a kind stone bridges, seamlessly blending structure and artistry into a feature designed to look and feel naturally formed.
Water in Motion
The finished stream comes to life as water gently curls around the natural stone, spilling from one level to the next. With the surrounding landscape growing right to the water's edge, the stream becomes part of the environment- blending stone, water, and planting into a seamless, living landscape.
A Seemless Part of the Landscape
The completed stream flows naturally alongside the home and staircase, seamlessly connecting the architecture with the surrounding landscape. Lush plantings frame the rockwork as water cascades over the final waterfall and settles into a quiet pond below - creating a feature that feels as though it has always belonged there.
A Climb to Discovery
Turnstone transformed an ordinary children's room into an imaginative adventure, sculpting a custom rock climbing wall that leads to a loft designed for exploration and discovery. The hand crafted rock work adds a playful, natural element to the room while creating a unique space for kids to climb, explore, and let their imaginations run wild.
Climbing into Discovery
The finished climbing wall becomes an interactive part of the room, giving children a unique way to reach the loft above. With every handhold and contour carefully sculpted into the rock, the wall combines craftsmanship, imagination, and function to create an experience that turns the journey upward into a part of the adventure
Reaching the Loft
The climb reaches its destination as one child makes the final ascent to the loft, while another enjoys the space above with a good book. The sculpted rock wall creates a natural connection between the two levels, turning the climb itself into an integral part of the room's design and a unique area for exploration and discovery.
One Door to Rule Them All
This conceptual drawing captures the beginning of a unique transformation- A Lord of the Rings- inspired hobbit hole facade designed for the lower level entrance of the home. The concept was developed to blend the existing architecture with handcrafted rockwork and natural forms, creating an entrance that feels as though it belongs in a storybook landscape.
Textures of Middle Earth
Before the construction began, Turnstone created a series of full scale texture samples to develop the different wood, stone, and surface elements needed for the facade. These samples allowed the details, textures, and character of the finished hobbit hole entrance to be refined before being brought together into the final creation
Built for a Hobbit
The completed Hobbit Hole facade stands in striking contrast to the unfinished home surrounding it, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into every detail. Round window frames and a custom circular doorway establish the unmistakable character of the entrance, while ornate wood is sculpted into the massive concrete eyebrow overhead. The sweeping structure not only frames the entrance but cleverly conceals a planter, combining imaginative design with practical function.
Welcome to the Shire
With the home complete and the landscape fully planted, the Hobbit Hole facade becomes the magical centerpiece it was designed to be. Surrounded by lush greenery, natural textures, and carefully crafted architectural details, the finished entrance feels less like an addition to the house and more like a doorway into another world.
The Complete Picture
The completed home brings together architecture, handcrafted shotcrete work, lush landscaping, and water in one seamless setting. The Hobbit Hole entrance anchors the lower level while the water feature winds through the walkway creating a landscape that feels both natural and entirely unique.
A World of its Own
From the home itself, the gardens, the water feature, and the handcrafted hobbit hole entrance, every element was designed to work together as one cohesive setting. The finished result transforms the back of the property into an immersive environment where architecture, nature, and Turnstone's artistry come together.
bottom of page