8 



larger elements should be placed in these level areas, while the slopes between 

 them are accepted as the natural lines of subdivision within the lot, possibly to be 

 planted. From this it is evident that the straight lines usually demarking the 

 subdivision of areas on flat lots are not always suitable to uneven ground. Straight 

 lines and regularly shaped areas are unquestionably more economical of space. 

 But in so far as the requirements of the several features permit, it is more import- 

 ant to economize in grading, and to so bend one's conception of the essential ar- 

 rangement for the main elements, that it may fit gracefully with the less conven- 

 tional conditions. 



Principles and conventions are good things when intelligently applied, and flexi- 

 bility of opinion is apt to be an indication of greater understanding. In order to 

 develop a point of view for the planning of land of marked irregularity, one must 

 start with a clear conception of the fundamental requirements for a residence 

 property, as exemplified in the simplest form on small flat lots of regular outline. 

 The functions of each element, together with its relation to the other elements, 

 must be thoroughly understood. Persistent observation and analysis of examples, 

 wherever they are to be found, will broaden one's conception of these essential 

 features. It is easy to criticise, and criticism not too hasty will sometimes dis- 

 close mistakes and perhaps suggest better details. The study of many examples 

 and the gathering of a vocabulary of details may develop one's ability to visualize 

 plans. However, rigidity of opinion in one's own conception of a plan for a home, 

 or a similar tenacity in respect to the plans advocated for flat, rectangular lots 

 in the foregoing chapters, is indicative of little understanding of fundamental 

 principles and of a narrow experience. One must construct a background of 

 understanding before he can trust himself to be flexible in his opinions, and he 

 must have ideas before he can visualize plans. 



There are some details concerning the shaping of surfaces and the resulting 

 effects, which apply generally to all conditions, and these will be briefly explained 

 at this time in order that they may perhaps further clarify the foregoing explana- 

 tions of this chapter. Usually a house is built on an elevation, or with respect 

 to an elevation, called the ground line, which is a level slightly above that of the 

 sidewalk in front of the house. This arrangement looks well partly because it is 

 customary and partly because it is practical for drainage and affords the house a 

 good setting from the point of view of the street. Hence this customary relation 

 of the front with respect to other elevations must be the starting point for any 

 proposed exceptions. 



When houses stand slightly higher or lower than is desirable, suitable compen- 

 sation may be made by skillful grading of the front area. This area may be 

 excavated to make for a slight degree of concavity whose lowest part will be 

 from two-thirds to three-quarters of the distance from the sidewalk to the house, 

 thus resulting in a decidedly steeper slope immediately approaching the house 

 than near the street. By this device the house can be made to appear, from the 

 street, about as high above it as it is above the low part of the lawn. Hence 

 it may be assumed that if, in the profile between a point of view and a terminal, 

 the gradient breaks at a point nearer the terminal and from thence rises at a 

 steeper gradient, the resulting effect will be that the terminal appears higher than 

 it actually is. The longer segment may slope downward, may be level, or may 

 slope upward, but as long as the shorter segment is noticeably steeper, the effect 



