STRUCTURES IN LANDSCAPE 



tion which we have been discussing in this chapter, are differently 

 handled by the designer according as they form a part of a humanized 

 or of a naturalistic composition.* With roads and paths, this differ- 

 ence is greater than with most of the other objects, because in formal 

 and some man-made informal landscape design, the roads and paths 

 are made to be seen and to take their part as important elements in 

 the composition, whereas in a natural or naturalistic landscape, they 

 are usually a necessity to be tolerated, not a beauty to be displayed. 



In a naturalistic landscape, as far as it is possible, the road should Roads in 

 seem to lie upon the surface of the ground without interruption of the 

 natural modeling. The surface of necessary cuts and fills should 

 simulate the natural surface where possible ; where this is impossible 

 their modeling should still be as sequential and unbroken a continua- 

 tion of the natural surface as the designer can arrange. Usually, if 

 the road lies somewhat below the adjoining surface, it will be less con- 

 spicuous. Where a road must cross a view over an open area, in a 

 naturalistic scheme, it may be impossible to conceal the road by plant- 

 ing without thereby interrupting the view. It may be still possible 

 to lead the road across the open space in a depression, deep enough at 

 any rate to conceal the road surface, perhaps deep enough to conceal 

 the traffic as well, and in any case so arranged that the line of sight 

 passes from a surface on the nearer side, related to the whole open 

 area, to a surface on the farther side, apparently continuous with it, 

 and the mind is thus led to suppose that the intervening surface, not 

 seen, is of the same character. 



Where a road is to be inconspicuous, its surface should be as little 

 noticeable in color as possible and its edges should not present a clean, 

 hard, and definite line. These considerations make the use of a road 

 material like gravel or broken stone esthetically preferable to that of 

 brick or cement. Asphalt-bound roads, as we have seen, may be con- 

 structed with a surface not much different from macadam, and with 

 sufficient care the sharpness of their edges need not be too conspicuous. 

 Such a surface may be modeled into gutters on the sides, but macadam 

 and gravel surfaces are too soft to serve as gutters on any considerable 



* For some discussion of roads and paths in the design of the estate, the park, or 

 land subdivision, see Chapter XI. 



