Philosophical Framework
CHAPTER 1 The Typical Residential Site CHAPTER 2 Outdoor Rooms
CHAPTER 3 Sustainable Design
This section of the book offers a philosophical framework for residential site design. There are numerous approaches and theories to residential site design that range from minimal site development to the elaborate garden settings that are oases from the bustle of urban and suburban living. Further, some design approaches stress plant materials and the gardening aspect of a residential site, whereas others emphasize a sought-after lifestyle.
Within that array of possibilities, it is the underlying notion of this book that sound residential site design is based on a respect for the environment and the need to create outdoor living spaces that extend a client's lifestyle into the exterior environment. Chapter 1 is a critical analysis of the typical single-family site found in all geographic areas of the United States and provides a point of departure for offering a better way to design the residential landscape. Chapter 2 outlines numerous strategies for creating and maintaining a sustainable landscape that is in sync with the environment and its ongoing processes. Chapter 3 describes the fundamental building block of residential site design: outdoor space. The ideal residential landscape should be composed of a range of outdoor spaces that provide settings for various activities and functions. Collectively, all three chapters give the reader the background for designing a thoughtful, comfortable, and environmentally sensitive residential landscape.
