THE THEORY OF CITY DESIGN. 87 



effect, by ensuring for it a sufficient distinctness. Remembering 

 that a considerable time must elapse before any great city can be 

 completed, 1 the reservation of sites for future public buildings 

 and requirements generally, and for extension of buildings as the 

 necessity arises, should always be on a most liberal scale, as this 

 not only avoids the need for costly resumptions of land, but also 

 enables the aesthetic effects to receive that adequate consider- 

 ation which they rarely do if the element of cost is serious. 2 



The spatial provision for monuments, intended to be of noble 

 proportions, therefore, would be appropriately located at prominent 

 radial centres, while that for those of lesser size would be relegated 

 to more unpretentious positions. It is, of course, important that 

 the magnitude of monuments should harmonize with their sur- 

 roundings ; and as the form they may be expected to take depends 

 very largely upon the contingencies of the future, the spatial pro- 

 vision should be liberal. The essence of the whole matter is that 

 all conspicuous or prominent sites should be appropriated for 

 those great public buildings and monuments upon which a people 

 may be expected to lavish its wealth and artistically express its 

 national feeling. 



In order that monuments of all kinds may be properly seen, an 

 unobstructed area mustbepreserved immediately round about them. 

 For viewing detail, an onlooker would stand at a distance from 

 the monument about equal to its height; to see it as a whole, at 

 a distance about twice its height; to see it with its background 

 and immediate surroundings, at say three times its height; 3 and 

 to see it with its general surroundings at a still greater distance. 



1 It will, for example, be many years before Australia will be wealthy 

 enough to erect truly monumental buildings. It would be well to com- 

 mence, however, on permanent lines, whenever we do start the substantial 

 buildings. 



2 The penalty paid, over and over again, in the States of the Common- 

 wealth, for want of foresight in the matter of public requirements, is not 

 merely a most serious financial loss : the possibility of adequately meeting 

 those requirements has practically vanished. 



3 Angles 45°, 26° 34', and 18° 26' respectively. 



