As with pavement, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind when selecting materials and designing patterns for landscape structures.
Relation to House
Every attempt should be made to visually connect site structures to the house so that the landscape and house appear as one unified design statement (Figure 12—72). This can be accomplished by repeating materials such as stone, brick, or paint color on the fapade of the house in nearby walls, fences, arbors, and so on. In addition, the designer might carefully select certain architectural details of the house and replicate them in nearby site structures (Figure 12—73).
Character and Function
As discussed at the beginning of this chapter, materials should be selected for their appropriateness to the region and neighborhood in terms of visual character, climate, and availability of materials. It is necessary to look beyond the particular residential site to determine what is suitable or not suitable for the setting. In addition, the character of structures should fit the style of other landscape features. It is often helpful to study alternatives to determine which is most fitting for the overall design (Figure 12—74).
Fence Caps and Frames
Free-standing walls and fences are often more appealing when they have interesting details that give relief from an otherwise flat surface. One technique is to emphasize
the top of the wall and fence with a linear cap (Figure 12—75). Such a cap visually terminates the wall and fence surface and reduces the chances of the eye wandering off into the background or sky. The cap along with posts and bottom railings can help to frame the surface much like the frame around a picture.
