8 LANDSCAPE GARDEN SERIES 



to existing natural conditions, depends for its success on the funda- 

 mental organization of the plan in the location of the building group 

 and its orientation 90 as to give the most convenient arrangement for 

 the entrance, lawn, view, garden and service. 



When the general direction lines for the views are established, 

 and the proper space given to each area or working part, we have the 

 basis of a working plan or scheme. The style of architecture and 

 the emphasis of features should then be determined to fit the needs of 

 the problem. After the buildings have once been built and such con- 

 struction work as grading, road building and planting, are done, it is 

 difficult to rearrange them so as to make a satisfactory plan. A road 

 that may be made to emphasize natural scenery by frequent turns and 

 detours from a natural line of direct approach may have certain 

 advantages for a morning walk, but for use as a motor road or entrance 

 may be inconvenient. 



A road that has curves and turns because of grade, topographical 

 reasons, may be the best solution of the problem, but a deliberate turn- 

 ing and twisting in order to display features becomes unhandy because 

 of the loss of its purpose as an entrance drive. 



This has brought about the division of the drives into entrance, or 

 business drives and displays drives, motor or carriage roads and bridle 

 paths. 



In the organization of the plan for a country place, the location 

 of the house group and its immediate surroundings so as to take 

 advantage of the best views, is of the first importance to the owner 

 for the best endowment of the open country and the landscape architect 

 for the success of the plan. The principal views out have an import- 

 ant influence on the general location and orientation of the house. The 

 principal axes are determined by the general view directions. In the 

 opening or closing of other views and vistas, care must be taken that 

 too many lines do not carry out so as to produce a confusion of views. 

 A magnificent view down a river or across a valley, is the principal 

 picture. 



A careful following of the principles of design or composition in 

 the organization of a country place plan is not something that concerns 

 itself with problems where the plan itself may make a great decorative 



