202 LANDSCAPE DESIGN 



where the traffic is turned abruptly at the foot of the steps, or the 

 traffic and the view stop short or turn abruptly at the top, a single 

 straight flight of steps will probably be constructed. There will be a 

 tendency to make the width of the flight of steps equal to the width 

 of the path which approaches them, but considerations of the total 

 mass of the flight as an object in the design will enter here, and if it be 

 not very high, it may for this reason be made wider. Or the mass may 

 be considerably increased by posts, balustrades, ramps, or projecting 

 bases for flower pots at the sides of the steps. If the steps lie in a turf 

 bank, it is usually desirable to have the line of the nosings of the steps 

 lie in the plane of the bank or at least be parallel to it. Balustrades 

 on such steps are not practically necessary and are usually not esthet- 

 ically desirable. A low ramp paralleling the slope of the bank, or 

 perhaps a stepped ramp is more likely to be congruous with the shape 

 of the bank. 



Where a single flight of steps leads to an open panel below or to 

 walks that go in several directions, the steps, or at least the lower part 

 of the steps, may well recognize this dispersion of traffic by a rounded 

 or splaying form. Such a form has an obvious esthetic advantage in 

 design, since the broader lower steps give a pleasing base to the whole 

 flight and lead the eye agreeably from the rising line to the horizontal 

 surface below ; but nevertheless such forms should be used only with 

 great care unless the lower area to which the steps lead has considerable 

 openness and expanse to right and left of the steps. 



One line of traffic below may be spread into two lines above by 

 balanced flights of steps rising to right and left. Such an arrangement 

 almost necessitates something — niche, fountain, or similar feature — 

 in the wall between the steps at the lower level, terminating the single 

 lower path and enframed by the balanced flights of steps. This ar- 

 rangement is usually best when it is sunk into the face of the retaining 

 wall, rather than when the landings at the tops of the two flights of 

 steps form projecting bastions. 



Two lines of traffic below may be collected into one line above 

 often by two balanced flights of steps applied as it were to the outside 

 of the retaining wall and projecting above in a bastion for the top land- 

 ing, or by two flights of steps, usually curving, sunk into the body of 



