martinhouseclr

142 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT is hidden from most views within the courtyard and is most visually associated with the east end of the Gardener’s Cottage parcel. A long uninterrupted view extends east-west from the western conservatory façade, through the auto court, over the concrete ramp and former greenhouse remnants, along low shrub barriers north of the visitor center, and ultimately to the back façade and rear patio of the Gardener’s Cottage. This visual link, from the Martin House core to the Gardener’s Cottage, is separated by a grade drop, but otherwise remains unobstructed. The Gardener’s Cottage building blocks views from the property’s historic core to Woodward Avenue and, likewise, from Woodward Avenue into the Martin House property. Only a relatively narrow visual passage exists on the south side of the Cottage (driveway space) that allows views to the street. The northern limits of the Gardener’s Cottage parcel are enclosed at the ground plane by a thick shrub border which includes a few sparse and somewhat deformed trees. Lastly, despite being a circulatory hub that allows passage to otherwise unconnected areas of the landscape, and in direct contrast to most other designed structures, the Conservatory includes no clear visual relationships between the outside landscape and the interior space. Indeed, windows are high above and do not allow sight in or out of the conservatory – only allowing light inside. The conservatory is seemingly enclosed upon itself, with the most significant visual relationship being the long and powerful axial view between the house, the pergola and the conservatory. This view is chiefly engaged from the south, within the Martin House foyer, to the north, terminating at the Nike sculpture in the Conservatory – but not the other way around, as a flight of steps at the south end of the conservatory interrupts and minimizes the prominence of the view backwards towards the house. Topography The Martin House site is perceptibly flat in appearance and the landscape surface that is visible from nearly every vantage point, particularly the street frontages, is generally devoid of any apparent landform. However, in reality, the site’s size, as well as the arrangement and finished floor elevations of buildings, disguises a nearly 4-foot grade drop along the property’s Summit Avenue frontage and a 3-foot drop along the Jewett Parkway frontage. The topographic differences are taken up along the street frontages and sidewalks by grades of between 2% and 4% and but are imperceptible from the public realm as a feature of the landscape. The Jewett Frontage is entirely flat except for a slight pitch away from the house towards the street. It is not until the eye meets, and examines, the limits of the Floricyle area that a noticeable grade drop becomes apparent. The grade drop that exists within the Floricycle is substantial on the south end, appearing as a short but steep (1 on 4 slopes, 25%) crescent-shaped embankment Fig. 136, top Courtyard, driveway on left, garage and fountain wall at rear-left. Fig. 137, bottom Courtyard, pergola edge garden space (lower right), path, interior garden and visitor center beyond.