LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION 



LOCATING THE HOUSE 



THE house should be so placed on the property as to give the 

 maximum pleasure and comfort to the owner or occupants. 

 It should provide for good views and scenes from the interior 

 as well as convenient access and good circulation to all parts of the 

 property (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the practical aspect must not be 

 overlooked — the matter of drainage — so the house should be set on a 

 rise where the natural grade drops away in every direction. It is not 

 necessary that the highest spot be selected, but it is most important 

 that natural drainage be assured. 



Unfortunately the modern trend is to build all small houses in 

 straight rows facing the street. While it is desirable that the best 

 architectural features be in evidence, it is not necessary that the house 

 face the street in every instance. For instance, would it not be much 

 more enjoyable if the service or kitchen side of the house faced the 

 street, so as to make the rear grounds quite private and the service 

 side of easier access to the street ? In such a case the building line 

 can be maintained, but perhaps more attention might be paid to the 

 architectural Unes of that side of the house. In the northeastern 

 states the best exposure is facing southeast, but if there happens to 

 be an unusually good distant view in some other direction, the house 

 should be built so that the hving rooms command a good perspec- 

 tive of the picture. 



However, inasmuch as the majority of small houses are built to 

 face the street, it will, perhaps, be best to take up the subject from that 



Fig. 4.— When the house sets below the grade of the street, a gracefully graded lawn— 

 as shown here— adds much to the appearance of the property. In all cases the ground 

 in the immediate vicinity of the house should slope away from it 

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