martinhouseclr

187 4 // ANALYSIS & EVALUATION Topography The existing topography of the Martin House is characteristic of the Martin-ownership period. Though predominantly a flat urban lot, the site is still marked by the subtle but substantial rise and reciprocal fall in grade along both the Jewett and Summit right-of-way frontages, the purposeful compression and concealment of that grade on-site at the Floricycle area, and the resulting appearance of the house as if it was on a singular flat plane. It is believed that vegetative materials aided in the seemingly purposeful visual concealment of topographic features at the Floricycle but the expanse of uninterrupted turf has a similar effect - disguising changes in grade that were undesired. Vegetation Apart from a select few areas of interpretive plantings that are largely characteristic of the period, the vast majority of the landscape is devoid of vegetative materials and is not characteristic of the Martin ownership period. Vegetative materials, including trees, shrubs, perennials, defined beds – virtually all vegetation on site – has been heavily impacted by decades of modification, removals, and construction activities related to the preservation treatments being performed on the house. The vast expanses on open turf, though marginally supporting the various defined landscape spaces as a vegetative feature are clearly out of character relative to the abundant vegetation of the period. The European (Copper) Beech on the western side of the Jewett frontage is the sole surviving vegetative feature within the historic core. A wisteria and lilac from the period have been transplanted off property (adjacent) and are being preserved. Miscanthus grass within the front raised planter is not characteristic. Contemporary interpretive plantings such as plants in urns, window boxes and planters appear to be in keeping with the known plant materials of visual intent of those historic vegetative features. However, existing perennial beds within the courtyard space are not characteristic of the period and the beds themselves are both more narrow and longer than the historic beds (cutting off direct access to the lawn). Circulation Existing circulation appears to fundamentally be characteristic of the Martin period, although all landscape circulation features are prior reconstruction treatments. Nonetheless, all known circulation routes are represented and generally appear to be accurate with respect to materials. A few notable, albeit mostly minor, exceptions include specific areas of the driveway, walkways throughout the Gardner’s Cottage parcel, and the north south garden path within the courtyard. The driveway entry includes a PVC removable bollard to prevent cars from accessing the driveway (health and safety purposes) and also features a concrete drive apron at the street, which was originally gravel and included matching curb edging. The reconstructed curb edging also appears to have a color miss- match to the adjacent slab walkway. Concrete color is unsurprisingly difficult to identify in period photographs, and the CLR authors have not been able to access any original written specifications, however, photographs show that the driveway concrete curb edge and the house’s entry walk are of a matching tint (shade of grey in photographs) and include integral / aligned scoring patterns. The photographic record also indicates that the area directly outside of the garage was paved in concrete at some point – however it is likely that this occurred sometime after 1908. Additionally, the 1905 as- built site plan prepared by O.S. Lang seems to indicate that the curb edge and planting beds at the north side of the fountain wall included a rounded bevel motif rather than the extant 90-degree shape. Connecting to these beds is the garden walkway through the courtyard, which was reconstructed to be straight on alignment with the wall piers. Historically this walkway was aligned more slightly to the east and included an unusual ‘jog’ at the end which is not reflected in the reconstruction. The diamond-shaped pavers in turf are not present which once connected the southeast conservatory door to the Summit Terrace steps and the nearby conservatory east- wing entry door. Lastly, the circulation (both route and materials) at the Gardener’s Cottage site has