Proper Situations for a House 31 



require an artificial terrace on that side; because neither 

 of the dotted lines shewn there would connect with 

 the natural shape ; and where the ground cannot be 

 made to look natural, it is better, at all times, to avow 

 the interference of art than to attempt an ineffectual 

 concealment of it. Such situations are peculiarly appli- 

 cable to the Gothic style, in which horizontal lines are 

 unnecessary. 



These sections can only describe the shape of the 

 ground as it cuts across in any one direction. But an- 

 other shape is also to be considered : thus it generally 

 happens that a knoll is longer one way than the other, or 

 it may even extend to a natural ridge, of sufficient length 

 for a long and narrow house; but such a house must 

 be fitted to the ground, for it would be absurd in the 

 architect to place it either diagonally or directly across 

 such a ridge. The same holds good of the inclined plane, 

 which is, in fact, always the side of a valley whose 

 general inclination must be consulted In the position 

 of the building. A square house would appear awry 

 unless its fronts were made to correspond with the shape 

 of the adjacent ground. 



I shall conclude this digression by observing that 

 on a dead flat or plain the principal apartments ought 

 to be elevated, as the only means of shewing the land- 

 scape to advantage. Where there is no inequality, it 

 will be very difficult to unite any artificial ground with 

 the natural shape: it will in this case be advisable either 

 to raise it only a very few feet or to set the house on 

 a basement storey. But wherever a park abounds in 

 natural inequalities, even though the ground near the 

 house should be flat, we may boldly venture to create 

 an artificial knoll, as it has been executed at Welbeck. 



