Dahliwood

In Progress
Written by Jennifer Cates
Agrarian Sanctuary
Under Construction

Dahliwood

3 Bedrooms  •  2 Bathrooms  •  2,954 SQ FT
Located in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, "Dahliwood" is a custom residence designed for comfort and playful outdoor living. The multi-level home pairs warm wood architecture with natural elements, featuring airy interiors, a main-level owner's suite, and expansive glass framing the woods. Designed to engage its environment, the residence opens onto an active landscape complete with timber fire pits, a hillside slide, balance beams, and an outdoor sauna. Surrounded by native fern meadows and a mini-forest, Dahliwood offers a grounded experience in nature.
Click any stage to jump to section  |  Active: Phase 02 Landscape
Phase 01
Plans
Phase 02
Landscape
Phase 03
Foundation
Phase 04
Exterior
Phase 05
Interior
Phase 06
Complete
Phase 01

Architectural Vision & Plans

Completed
We are honored to collaborate with Christopher Strom Architects with lead architect Eric Johnson on a residence where high-end architectural craft is built on environmental design. Built directly into the natural slope of the hill, the home’s four-level floor plan steps gracefully down the land, merging elegant living spaces with the quiet beauty of the forest. Sleek architectural volumes—the main house, guest cabin, and garage—are paired with a rich landscape plan filled with native prairie grasses and lush woodland plantings. Expansive glass invites natural sunlight inside, anchoring the estate into its wooded backdrop for an elevated, nature-immersed experience.
Site Plan
The site plan maps out where the main house, small cabin, garage, and driveways sit on the property to protect the surrounding trees and manage rainwater.
Planting Plan
The planting plan outlines the soft grass, native prairie seeds, and wild ferns added around the buildings to help blend the new structure right into the forest floor.
Phase 02

Landscape Design & Site Integration

Completed
We are so excited to be working alongside Ping Design to bring the landscape to life, transforming the surrounding forest into an interactive outdoor haven that pairs active play with thoughtful land management. Ping Design's vision centers on ecological restoration, clearing diseased ash and buckthorn to establish a Miyawaki mini-forest, native rain gardens, and fern meadows. Turning nature into a playground, fallen timber is repurposed into balance beams, fire pit gathering spots, and hillside play structures. This design creates a space for unstructured play, physical discovery, and adventure while enriching the natural surroundings.
Master Site Plan
A comprehensive master site plan showing the layout of the main house, guest cabin, pathways, and playful outdoor activity zones.
Site Analysis
Site analysis mapping existing tree health to guide selective clearing, tree protection, and invasive buckthorn removal.
Fire Pit Area
Precedent design for a natural gathering space featuring a steel fire pit and custom benches crafted from repurposed site timber.
Forest Play Features
Inspiration for active forest features, including a hillside embankment slide, climbing logs, and elevated rope bridges.
Stepping Paths & Trampoline
Woodland play details featuring natural log stepping paths and an in-ground trampoline nestled into the surrounding grass.
Phase 03

Substructure & Foundation

COMING SOON
Phase 04

Exterior Finishes

COMING SOON
Phase 05

Interior Finishes

COMING SOON
Phase 06

Project Completion & Portfolio

COMING SOON
Jennifer Cates
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