It can be seen that the forces, forms, and features of the total site exert both a powerful and often subtle influence on the schematic plan. In the refinement of the plan and the design of each component, their relation-ship to all aspects of the environs is to be further studied.
Outward and Inward Plan Progression
We must consider each function from the innermost point of generation to the off-site terminus. In the design of a home, for example, we would be concerned with the route of the small-fry not only from bed to bath-room to breakfast table but also from breakfast table to the nearest door, to play areas, to pathway, to school—all in a natural and pleasant pro-gression. Or, in more prosaic terms, we would plan the route of refuse from kitchen to service area to refuse truck to street—all with inconspic-uous convenience. The relationship of dining table to window to view involves enframement and development of the view to the property lim-its and, in most cases, beyond.
Conversely, each element or area must be designed as the logical conclu-sion of a function originating at the extremities of the site environs. Any-one approaching your property to make a delivery is subtly directed to the service drive, the parking space for the delivery truck, the service walk, the service entrance, and the storage compartment. By design, guests arriving for the evening are alerted and invited in, welcomed to the approach court, directed to the parking bay, and guided to the entrance door, where they enter to the vestibule and the hospitality of the inner home. This same inward and outward progression is applicable to the planning of any project, be it a sawmill, a recreation park, or a world’s fair exposition.
Expansion-Contraction of Plan Concept
Most site-planning problems can be fully solved only by expanding the areas of consideration to the farthest extensional aspect of the site and by contracting each problem to the minutiae of human experience and irre-ducible detail. For although it is true that an object or element must be judged in relation to all other elements with which it is allied, it is also true that objects can be fully appreciated only when they are experienced one at a time, in depth, and at the living moment.
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Integral Planning
When a structure is imposed on a site, certain changes in landscape char-acter are effected. It is important that these changes be controlled by the planner. Our elementary school is not just plunked down in a city block or in the midst of a suburban community. Rather, ideally, it is fitted to the property and conceived in harmony with the community with such skill that the new landscape created is an improvement over the original.
For a lesson in relating architecture to site we may well look to the Renaissance planners. In the building of the magnificent Piazza San Marco in Venice, the architect commissioned to design the cathedral, or the campanile, or the Doge’s Palace, or the memorial columns at the water gate never conceived of his building or columns as design entities solely. Instead, he instinctively considered his works as integral parts of the piazza in terms of his proposed structure, which he conceived, from broad plan to most minute detail, in terms of its impact on the piazza and vice versa. Each planner not only designed that for which he was commissioned but redesigned the entire piazza and, in doing so, his city of Venice. Thus, and only thus, was he fulfilling his obligation to his Satellite Plan
As a total structure is conceived in harmony with the total site, so must each element or area of the structure be conceived in harmony with related site areas. In an elementary school, for instance, we would plan the kindergarten, its outdoor play lot, garden, and entrance gate all as one. The gymnasium we would coordinate with the game courts, equip-ment areas, and playfields. We would consider the boiler plant together with its service and storage areas. The auditorium with its approaches and parking compound, the classrooms with their related outdoor spaces, each element with its extensional site areas would be treated as an integrated plan complex. The overall scheme in diagram would thus resemble a solar system with sun, planets, and satellites.
The best site plan is that which yields the greatest long-term benefit with the least total cost and stress.
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Integrated plan.
Floor & Associates, Kristina Floor, Christopher Brown
client and his city. The secret of much of the charm and great beauty of European towns and cities lies in the conscious application of this plan-ning axiom. Much of the hodgepodge and helter-skelter appearance of the American scene results from planning with seeming ignorance of and indifference to the existing environs.
Proving the Plan
How do we know whether our proposed installation is well related to its site? There is one sure test we can apply. We can experience it vicariously through the senses of those who will see and use it. At any stage in the creative process, from rough sketches to final drawings or model, we can by our imagination lift ourselves up and look down at the project with a fresh perspective. We can bring it alive in our mind’s eye. We can say, in effect, as we look down at the plans for a church:
“I am the minister. As I drive by my church or approach it, does it express those inspirational qualities to which I have dedicated my life? As I enter my study, do I sense that this space is remote enough to give me privacy for study and meditation, yet accessible enough to attract to its doors those who need help or counsel or those who come on church business? As an office, is it so located that I can direct and oversee church activities? Does this church that I am to administer have an efficiently organized plan?”
“I am the janitor. As I come to work in the morning, where do I park my car? How do the barrels of cleaning compound get moved from the service dock to the storage area? Where do I store my lad-ders and snow removal equipment? Did someone in their plan-ning think about me and my work?”
“I am a Boy Scout coming to troop meeting. Are the walks planned to take me where I am going, or do I cut across the lawn? Some friends of mine are waiting outside. Do we have a place where we can rip around and blow off steam and maybe shoot a few bas-kets? Where do we put our bikes? Where do we set up practice tents? Where do we . . . ?”
“I am a member of this church, and I am coming to worship. Does my church invite me in? Am I able to drive close to the entry on a cold, rainy day? Where do I park? Is there ample room? After the service, is there a pleasant space adjacent to the doors where we may linger and greet our friends and welcome visitors?”
All these things are a part of church life and need to be arranged for in its planning. The function of any project and the relationship of build-ing to site may thus be tested by an imaginary introduction to and walk-through by people typical of those who will see, service, and/or use it.
The process of site-structure plan development is a search for logical progressions and best relationships.
Rikiu was watching his son Shoan as he swept and watered the garden path. “Not clean enough,” said Rikiu, when Shoan had finished his task, and bade him try again.
After a weary hour the son returned to Rikiu:
“Father, there is nothing more to be done. The steps have been washed for the third time; the stone lanterns and trees are all well sprinkled with water; moss and lichens are shining with a fresh verdure; not a twig, not a leaf have I left on the ground.” “Young fool,” chided the teamaster, “that is not the way a garden path should be swept.” Saying this, Rikiu stepped into the garden, shook a tree and scattered over the garden gold and crimson leaves, scraps of the brocade of autumn.
Kakuzo Okakura
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