Circulation

Driveways

One the most visually important and perhaps most relevant aspect of successful site design is how the car is managed. In well-designed traditional neighborhoods cars never dominate the house. Instead, gardens, walks and the house façade greet you. In poorly planned and designed neighborhoods, cars, associated paving and garage doors overshadow the house.

  • Driveways are ideally accessed from an alley on the back of the lot or to one side of the house.
  • Parking should be behind the house or on the side past the edge of the front façade.
  • Two-track driveways that maintain a swatch of planting between the tire lanes are less expensive, less prominent and more permeable.
  • Driveways can serve multiple purposes by providing space for events, play and utilitarian purposes allowing for an overall reduction in paved areas when planned. Shared driveways with neighbors is a great way to limit space dedicated to cars.
  • Impervious paving is a major contributor to storm water run-off and its associated negative effects. Permeable paving is an important tool for reducing run-off, associated pollution and increased groundwater recharge.
read more

Walks

Walks connect pedestrians to site elements including the street to the front door, the driveway to the house, the house to other structures, the house to the pool and garden. Less used routes typically need only be lawn or mulch. Walks can be a simple connection between two points, or meander through a space to create a more interesting landscape.

  • Ease of use and legibility should be considered when designing a walk. Visitors should know how to reach the front door. Bringing in groceries and taking out the trash should be considered. Routes should be laid out in a logical pattern.
  • Consideration should be given to providing accessible routes for people with mobility impairments. On steep sites, ramps (> 5% run slope) and safe stairs may be required. Ramps and stairs require handrails and should comply with accessibility and safety standards.
  • Proper grading is required to avoid rain washing or ponding.
read more

Stairs

Used to navigate changes in grade, stairs are commonly used with valley and hillside lots. Stairs are part of a pedestrian route and are frequently used at transitions from the public sidewalk to the front yard and porch.

  • Stairs taller than four feet (eight steps or more) can be daunting barriers. Breaking up long stairs with landings is common and sometimes required by code.
  • It’s best to maintain a consistent width between walks and stairs. Stairs can be wider than walks but should not be narrower.
  • Code and safety standards require step heights to be consistent on a stair. Sloping cross grades at the top or bottom as well as open treads should be avoided.
read more