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THE 17 ACRE ESTATE combines undisturbed woodland and forest with carefully sculptured formal gardens and deliberately planned informal outdoor recreation areas. The property lies in a triangular shape, encompassing the entire surface of a mountain, allowing absolute privacy. The natural ridges of the mountain taper on either side to connect with a county road. A 30-foot high cliff extends from ridge to ridge behind the residence, separating woodland from the lower developed areas.
Mr. Lawson, an avid runner, uses the estate's paved areas as a private jogging track. From the greenhouse walkway through various outdoor steps to the entrance drive with its gentle incline, a vigorous workout awaits the enthusiast. Mr. Lawson occasionally walks up the mountain, climbing to a higher plateau, an excellent exercise experience or a pleasant hike through the woods while observing nature.
Far right in the photograph below, a large informal area doubles as a children's playground and a field for family sports such as volleyball, softball, and croquet. Areas closer to the residence, designed to be enjoyed as views from the inside as well as peaceful outdoor escapes, are secluded from the larger entertainment areas and from each other. Landscaping includes underground culverts, pipes, and conduit which were installed and left to rest (settle) for more than five years. The site was profession- ally core-drilled and monitored to evaluate soil stability, compaction, and drainage. Yard hydrants spaced throughout the grounds as well as junction boxes for gas, water, and electricity allow changeable landscape enhancement. There are no overhead wires on the landscape.
   An automatic sprinkling system plus leaky pipe irrigation system spaced on four-foot centers were installed five years prior to the start of construction. A network of smaller drains feeds into main drains, eliminating surface run-off and soggy landscape.
The security entrance, flanked by columned walls, is built on reinforced concrete foundations which extend more than 36 inches below ground surface. Faced with native rock, the walls are capped with four-inch cut sandstone. They conceal two six- foot custom built decorative security gates constructed on solid one-inch iron pickets and eight-inch flat tubular steel. Visitors at the gates announce themselves via intercom. The gates operate by remote controls located both inside the house and at the outdoor entertainment area. They open automatically to exiting traffic.
   All exterior walls feature reinforced concrete poured 12 inches below maximum code requirements for freezing. Driveway and walkways have concrete curbs. All paved surfaces have a minimum of 12 inches of porous, compacted subsurface and all paved stone walkways cover compacted sand laid separately, not mortared, therefore not affected by freezing. The driveway is four-inch asphalt with an 18-inch compacted sub-surface supporting a stainless steel cross drain to prevent run-off water from entering the highway.
Exterior materials for the structures, including the main residence, are of the most durable quality: select redwood cuts and grades (100% knot-free with 98% single length siding -- no splices); non-corrosive hardware; zinc-dipped and aluminum nails; stainless bolts and screws; rubber roofing; copper guttering, flashing, and downspouts.
   The outdoor entertainment complex meets the needs of the most active families, and also serves an ideal venue for business and charitable entertaining on a grand scale. This ingenious use of the estate's outdoor spaces includes the following amenities: Combination tennis/basketball court, 40,000-gallon heated Gunite swimming pool, Playhouse on stilts for treehouse effect, Covered cookout kitchen, Wet bar, Fire pit,  Full-size bath,  22' x 50' Lord & Burham greenhouse, Potting shed, Vegetable, fruit, and berry garden.