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Nate Ritchie's Project
- Text, Part 2
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COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF STREET COORIDOORS IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING By Nathan Ritchie Part 2
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front property |
Area in front of the house owned by the residents, which begins at the building line and extends to the street.
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Planting Style |
General placement and type of plant material used within the front property.
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United states |
Most of the planting is placed against the house, with a large amount of trimmed shrubs. The rest of the area is filled with lawn and a few large trees.
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england |
Most of the planting is pushed to the edges of the property to create borders around a central lawn. The borders are made up of a large variety of herbaceous materials that are backed by trimmed hedge rows.
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analysis |
In the US the front property is more open because people are less encroached upon by the road and their neighbors. In England the strong borders are needed to create privacy. However, vision clearance standards restrict them to a maximum height of 1m (3.3ft), which ensures street safety. Similar laws in the US require all objects less than 12ft (3.7m) from the street to be under 2.5ft (0.8m) tall, unless they have at least a 25% opacity, in which case they can be 6ft (1.8m) tall.
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size |
Distance between the house and the street. |
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United states |
There is 30ft to 40ft (9.1m to 12.2m) between the house and the street.
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england |
There is 10ft to 20ft (3m to 6.1m) between the house and the street.
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analysis |
In the US laws require a minimum setback of 25ft (7.6m) between the house and the street. In England there is no required setback between the house and the street.
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public area |
Size and organization of the area adjacent to the street within the front property that can be freely accessed by the general public.
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united states |
A 9ft (2.7m) wide area made up of a 4ft (1.2m) wide sidewalk that is offset from the street by a 5ft (1.5m) wide grass buffer. Within the grass buffer stands a mailbox and occasionally some street trees.
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england |
A 3ft to 5ft (0.9m to 1.5m) wide sidewalk that runs directly beside the street.
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analysis |
The width of the public area reflects the amount of available space. In the US laws require sidewalks to be a minimum of 4ft (1.2m) wide and at least 3ft (0.9m) from the road. In England there is no required sidewalk width or setback. Mailboxes are replaced by slots in the front door of the house, and compact hedge rows act in place of street trees.
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street |
Area that has been designated for vehicular use. |
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size |
Total width of the street. |
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United states |
A 25ft to 30ft (7.2m to 9.1m) wide street. |
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england |
A 20ft to 25ft (6m to 7.2m) wide street. |
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analysis |
The width of the street reflects the amount of available
space. |
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function |
Different use areas within the street and how they relate to each other.
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united states |
Cars park along both edges of the road and two cars can simultaneously pass by one parked car.
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england |
Cars park along both edges of the road, sometimes with two wheels up on the sidewalk so two cars can simultaneously pass by them.
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analysis |
Street parking requires less driveway space. In England the placement of the sidewalk directly adjacent to the street allows street parking without restricting traffic flow on narrow roads.
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In conclusion, most of the differences observed in residential street corridors are due to the amount of available space and the importance given to automobiles in the design of the landscape. bibliography Photographs taken by Nathan Ritchie. Discussions with
Andy Taaffe, Program Leader for Landscape at Myerscough College. Columbus City Streets, Parks, and Public Properties Code. |
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Nate Ritchie's Project
- Text, Part 2
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