martinhouseclr

152 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT Water Features The property contains two separate constructed features that use water for aesthetic purposes. The largest of these features is a shallow (< 1-foot deep) diamond-shaped water basin that measures approximately 8x8-feet. The east and west apex corners of the diamond are slightly truncated to align with the adjacent masonry wall layout. The basin is entirely made of cast-in-place concrete with a smooth finish (matching the foundation of the house) and is bounded on the north by the masonry fountain wall – consisting of roman brick and a cast-stone cap (also matching the house). The fountain wall extends up from the northern half of the basin to a height of just over 5-feet. A narrow concrete sill (+/- 3-inches) continues around the walled in portion of the basin, while the basin wall itself at the front of the feature is just over 1-foot wide and sits 16-inches above finished grade. The basin includes a small brass water jet, which discharges a narrow singular stream of water vertically into the air to a height of approximately 18-inches. At the time of the site observation, the basin was filled with water to an elevation of approximately 2-inches below the top of basin wall and the water jet was turned on and functioning. The second water feature is located inside the Conservatory and consists of a much smaller roughly-diamond shape basin projecting from the floor to a height of approximately 8-inches. The basin is located at the base of the Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture, and the sculpture’s plinth projects from and over the water-filled basin. The small water feature also includes east and west diamond apexes that have been truncated as well as a singular vertical brass water jet. However, the jet discharges at a lower height. Buildings and Structures The total of the 1.5 acre core historic area contains six buildings (counting the open- walled pergola as a separate building) intended to shelter human activities. An additional four buildings are located on adjacent MHRC owned- property that serve programming or operational needs. These include a garage north of the Barton House (at 122 Summit Avenue), an administrative building (143 Jewett Parkway), the Greatbatch Pavillion (visitor center, behind administration building), and rental house (291 Woodward Avenue). The property also contains several structures not intended to shelter human activity, such as walls and drain basins. Many of the non-shelter structures are directly tied into buildings, but extend into the landscape in a way that makes them appear somewhat independent of the buildings. The six buildings on the site include the Martin House (referred to in certain contexts as the ‘main house’), the connecting pergola, the Barton House, the Conservatory, the Garage (referred Fig. 153, top Fountain and fountain wall, in the courtyard, visitor center in background left. Fig. 154, bottom Fountain at base of Nike sculpture, in conservatory.