The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Art Of Landscape Architecture
Architects' advice is not sufficient, landscape architects should be called in to study the shape of the ground and to select the place where the lawns and shrubbery will make the surroundings of the house most convenient and comfortable and secure the best landscape effect. . The engineer should also advise as to the drainage and the chemist as to the character of the soil with a view to its fertilization and also as to the quality of the drinking water. It seems a great deal of trouble to take to locate a house, but the wise man decides on all these things beforehand and saves himself a great deal of trouble in the end.
The architect naturally looks to the many questions of comfort and beauty that the landscape architect is not necessarily called on to discuss, such as the way the sun comes in at the windows and from what quarter the cold winds blow. The modelling of the land how-ever is the landscape architect's special province, and every pound of soil that comes from the cellar, and such other soil as has to be taken from elsewhere, should be under the control of the landscape architect and his assistants. To them exclusively should be delegated this work, for only in this way can an artistic result be accomplished satisfactorily on the most important part of the grounds. On the other hand, the architect should be consulted by the landscape architect concerning the kind of vines that should be grown on the house. Again we find the contrasting and overlapping of contradictory elements in the use of plants of various kinds that are needed over and in the verandas and porticoes to produce harmony between the house and the adjacent landscape, a sort of interlocking of horticultural and architectural features which can be made to produce charming combinations.
As an illustration of the importance of this way of treating the site, read the account of Tintern Abbey given by Prince Piickler in his Tour of England:
"It would be difficult to imagine a more favourable situation or a more sublime ruin. The entrance to it seems as if contrived by the hand of some skilful scene painter to produce the most striking effect. The church, which is large, is still almost perfect, the roof alone and a few of the pillars are wanting. The ruins have received just that degree of care which is consistent with the full preservation of their character; all unpicturesque rubbish which could obstruct the view is removed, without any attempt at repair and embellishment. A beautiful smooth turf covers the ground, and luxuriant creeping plants grow amid the stones. The fallen ornaments are laid in picturesque confusion, a perfect avenue of thick ivy stems climbing up the pillars and forming a roof overhead. The better to secure the ruin, a new gate of antique workman-ship with iron ornaments is put up.
