346 



LANDSCAPE DESIGN 



An Example of 

 Representation 

 of Design : 

 Presentation of 

 Landscape 

 Plans 



The methods of making these plans, so that they shall be most effi- 

 cient and convenient when used in carrying out the work which they 

 represent, are matters of technical procedure for which we have not 

 space here ; but we give a series of examples of such drawings (Draw- 

 ings XXXVI to XL) — all representing a piece of work which has 

 actually been constructed — to give some idea of their relations one 

 to another and of reasonable technical excellence in their preparation. 



We will discuss further only one aspect of this subject, the beauty 

 and the intelligibility of the presentation of our design by landscape 

 plans. Many of the more general considerations pertaining to the 

 presentation of plans will have also an application to the rest of the 

 field of expression. The questions of the choice of different mediums, 

 pencil, pen and ink, pastel, and so on, and the technical questions of the 

 different methods of reproduction of drawings by direct contact print- 

 ing and by reduction for published illustrations, are also matters for 

 which there is no room in this book. 



A drawing is, as we have said, merely one way of conveying an idea ; 

 and the drawing, like the written and the spoken words, should be 

 suited not only to the subject treated but to the person addressed. 

 The plain man who knows nothing about art may be best convinced 

 by a maplike plan, a simple line elevation ; the person of artistic tem- 

 perament, who does not care for practical detail, may be best approached 

 with a colored perspective ; that is, we may emphasize in the presenta- 

 tion those qualities of the design which we think will appeal to our 

 client. We should remember, too, that the client is judging not only 

 the design, but the designer, and a pretentious rendering might be as 

 unfortunate a start with a hard-headed business man as a quotation 

 from Tennyson would be. 



There are always two distinct purposes which will influence the choice 

 of a method of presentation of plans. First, to record the ideas which 

 are to be embodied in the proposed constructions, and, second, to 

 make an attractive sheet. Sometimes the first object is greatly domi- 

 nant, for instance, in grading plans. The beauty to be sought here is 

 such beauty only as is consonant with their use as construction draw- 

 ings : the beauty of accurate clean drafting, good curves, plain legible 

 consistent lettering, consistent quality of line, and pleasant arrange- 



