martinhouseclr

154 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT the top of the wall is visible from the property’s historic core. The wall is made of rough-hewn pieces of dry-set dolomitic limestone which, according to the restoration architects, were salvaged foundation material from the historic carriage house. At the north end of this wall is a concrete retaining wall that separates grade between the garage area and the Gardner’s Cottage parcel. The wall is cast-in-place concrete and 3-feet high, though visually it functions much like a ha-ha wall in that it is only visible from the Gardener’s Cottage parcel. Other structures on the property include a series of eight drainage basins (drain inlets) with subtle and small brass grates and comparatively large cast concrete basin surrounds. The basins are square and include a reverse-pyramid void to allow water to collect and drain into a connected site drainage system. There are two sizes of basin and two types of voids, including a pair of 4x4-feet basins on each side of the Martin House verandah, and the remaining basins at 5x5-feet. Some basins appear to have deep and defined voids, wherein the Barton basins have shallow voids. The other basins are located on either side of the Barton House verandah, on either side of the northern end of the pergola, and on the north and south sides of the porte-cochere. Four additional buildings are located outside of the historic core, but serve important needs for the MHRC. They include the Victorian-era administration building (a rehabilitated residential structure) fronting Jewett Parkway, the modern Greatbatch Pavilion visitor center (designed by architect Toshiko Mori) located directly west of the historic property, a small prefabricated greenhouse north of the original greenhouse location, and a Victorian-era garage structure located on an adjacent property behind the Martin House garage. The prefabricated greenhouse and the garage serve horticultural and maintenance needs. Site Furnishings and Objects Site furnishings and objects are high in quantity, although relatively few in variety and scattered throughout the property. Currently, these include several cast-concrete planting urns, a series of wooden laundry poles, two sculptures, four ornamental cast concrete birdhouses, a security camera system, and a wooden bench at the rear of both the Gardener’s Cottage and the Barton House. The quantity of cast concrete urns totals 13 throughout the property and appear to be identical in size and design. Visible from the Jewett Frontage are two located on the back wall of the front raised planter, one on the parapet wall cap near the front entry porch, and another on the parapet wall cap near the office entry and porte-cochere. Four urns are placed around the Martin House verandah. A single urn is located on a protruding concrete wall at the south end of the Summit Terrace, and another single urn is located at the Barton House front steps. The remaining urns are visible from the Courtyard, with an urn on each side of the fountain wall, Fig. 157, top Drain basin at northeast corner of Martin House verandah. Gate in background, to prevent access from exterior. Fig. 158, bottom North facade of visitor center on right, garage and conservatory in background.