Verdant Landscape Architecture collaborated closely with the architectural team to design an independent and assisted living senior residence in Salem, New Hampshire, directly across from the City’s new Senior Center. From the outset, the landscape design was shaped by a deep respect for the site’s bordering vegetated wetlands, treating them not as a constraint, but as a defining asset.

The site layout and planting strategy were carefully developed to protect and restore the wetland edge, reinforcing native plant communities while creating meaningful visual and physical connections for residents. Walking paths gently trace the perimeter, offering daily opportunities to engage with nature while preserving the integrity of sensitive habitats.

A south-facing terrace extends from the dining and living rooms, creating a sun-filled gathering space framed by layered perennial plantings and anchored by a subtle fountain. From this terrace, residents are drawn outward to a screened gazebo positioned at the edge of the wetland. Overlooking the restored landscape and integrated into a walking loop, the gazebo has become a favored destination for quiet reflection and birdwatching.

The landscape also includes a secure garden designed specifically for Alzheimer’s and memory-impaired residents. Enclosed and calming, this space offers safe access to nature through familiar plantings, gentle paths, and seasonal cues that support comfort, orientation, and well-being.

Together, the landscape and wetland restoration create a setting that is both environmentally responsible and deeply human—where ecological stewardship, therapeutic design, and everyday life are seamlessly intertwined.