martinhouseclr

30 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT The plan, noted as “Preliminary first floor plan” also includes the first known conceptual planting arrangement for the site. [Fig. 15] The letter also gives insight into the developing significance of the view from the verandah. The concerns raised by Martin were generally argued against by Wright in later correspondence, and indeed, the plan shows a not-quite fully realized conservatory, but the position of the pergola and the inclusion of what Isabelle referred to as “publistic” looking raised terrace walls, were included in subsequent designs and constructed. 53 The landscape design elements shown on the “Preliminary first floor plan” are conceptual plant massings and appear to be unfinished – particularly the area around the Martin House verandah and the front yard. The plan appears to plan has been a source of confusion for the CLR authors, as a combination of Martin correspondence and knowledge about the changes made to the interior design have dated the plan to late fall / early winter of 1903. However, the plan itself includes a date on the lower left stating “1904.” Furthermore, significant changes to the garden, particularly the interior courtyard (Kitchen Garden) and fountain wall design came early in 1904, placing suspicion on the plans title block date. It is possible that this plan was either dated after its completion, or Martin’s letter noted to reference the elements of the plan was based on a version of the plan than no longer survives. 53 The terrace walls are another critical defining feature of the composition, allowing the water table or stylobate of the Barton House, Pergola and Martin House to be strongly visually identified on the same horizontal plane, despite the visually subtle yet considerable grade change along the length of the Summit Avenue frontage. This design decision ultimately defines the hemi-cycle and floricycle as a grade feature with a “sunken” interior appearance. The horizontal plane of the house’s Jewett Parkway water table is significantly higher than that of Summit, but imperceptibly so when the landscape is in place. See the CLR analysis section. Fig. 14 First (May 1903) sketch of Martin House composition, Frank Lloyd Wright.