which recall the lines of the site and at the same time appear to be firmly rooted into position. There are hilltop types with irregular skyline where the house becomes a fitting climax for the site. There are orchard background types where the ground may or may not be sloping. If the designer will recognize to which of these classifications the site in question belongs, he has limited it to a certain species. This will help materially in shaping the lesser details in such a manner as to bring about the “house individual. ”
In any example of the heavy foliage background, the skyline will be irregular in outline. The contour of the ground may be steeply sloping or vary in degree to that which is practically flat. Perhaps the sharp irregularities of the plot itself will call for sudden steep slopes or a drop in the roof level. In any given case, the profile of the building should recall in some manner the profile of the background, accentuating it, possibly contrasting with it, but nevertheless bringing about harmony.
There are many English houses that have been developed for sites similar to those suggested. The Spanish, too, has been used in similar locations. The Pennsylvania Dutch type of rambling Colonial work also does well under such conditions when carefully shaped to the requirements.
In the matter of materials, half timber is excellent, as are also stone, brick and wood siding. Just
how these should be used in each case should be determined from the design in question.
If, from the above site, we should suddenly change our location to flat prairie land, almost bare of trees with the horizon as a background, we have changed our environment radically. Here there is practically no suggestion of the vertical. All is horizontal. The trees such as exist will be short and most of them will have been carefully fostered by man. From the far distance to the foreground will appear a series of low, slightly curving, rolling lines, except in such instances where they have been usurped by man.
It is not difficult to imagine a client desiring a house with strong vertical lines on such a plot. Neither is it difficult to see why such a combination would ordinarily be out of place. If we bend our profile to the demands of the site, we must in some manner recall the background. Of necessity, there will be some vertical lines if the house is of any size, but these should be minimized as much as possible by the use of transitional members in the form of garden walls, banks of shrubs and clipped gables. In the matter of materials, half timber is seldom appropriate. Stone work does well. Stucco is at its best in such surroundings, because it is plastic and can be flowing in line. Wide siding accentuates the horizontal lines. Steep roofs are rarely usable. There are Spanish types that can be used in
HOUSE OF R. J. DELANO, KANSAS CITY, MO. — SHELBY H. KURFISS, ARCHITECT
THE STRONG HORIZONTAL ROOF LINE, TOGETHER WITH THE CURVED RETAINING WALL, HELPS MAKE THE HOUSE FIT ITS PLACE AT THE TOP OF A RATHER LONG, SLOW RISE
In any example of the heavy foliage background, the skyline will be irregular in outline. The contour of the ground may be steeply sloping or vary in degree to that which is practically flat. Perhaps the sharp irregularities of the plot itself will call for sudden steep slopes or a drop in the roof level. In any given case, the profile of the building should recall in some manner the profile of the background, accentuating it, possibly contrasting with it, but nevertheless bringing about harmony.
There are many English houses that have been developed for sites similar to those suggested. The Spanish, too, has been used in similar locations. The Pennsylvania Dutch type of rambling Colonial work also does well under such conditions when carefully shaped to the requirements.
In the matter of materials, half timber is excellent, as are also stone, brick and wood siding. Just
how these should be used in each case should be determined from the design in question.
If, from the above site, we should suddenly change our location to flat prairie land, almost bare of trees with the horizon as a background, we have changed our environment radically. Here there is practically no suggestion of the vertical. All is horizontal. The trees such as exist will be short and most of them will have been carefully fostered by man. From the far distance to the foreground will appear a series of low, slightly curving, rolling lines, except in such instances where they have been usurped by man.
It is not difficult to imagine a client desiring a house with strong vertical lines on such a plot. Neither is it difficult to see why such a combination would ordinarily be out of place. If we bend our profile to the demands of the site, we must in some manner recall the background. Of necessity, there will be some vertical lines if the house is of any size, but these should be minimized as much as possible by the use of transitional members in the form of garden walls, banks of shrubs and clipped gables. In the matter of materials, half timber is seldom appropriate. Stone work does well. Stucco is at its best in such surroundings, because it is plastic and can be flowing in line. Wide siding accentuates the horizontal lines. Steep roofs are rarely usable. There are Spanish types that can be used in
HOUSE OF R. J. DELANO, KANSAS CITY, MO. — SHELBY H. KURFISS, ARCHITECT
THE STRONG HORIZONTAL ROOF LINE, TOGETHER WITH THE CURVED RETAINING WALL, HELPS MAKE THE HOUSE FIT ITS PLACE AT THE TOP OF A RATHER LONG, SLOW RISE