THE TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL SITE ....2

The front yard of most residential sites has two primary functions: (1) it is the setting or foreground for viewing the house from the street, and (2) it is the public area for arrival and entrance into the house. In terms of its function as a setting, the front yard provides the “frame” for viewing the “picture” of the house from the street. Much attention is given to arranging plant materials along the base of the house and in the yard to establish “curb appeal.” That is, the front yard and house are attractive to look at from the street.

The front yard is also a public area where the main arrival and entry to the house are usually located. The residents of the house along with their relatives, friends, and other visitors use this public space as an introduction to the site.

Front Yard

1. Front Lawn Lacks Edges. On many residential sites, the house is placed near the middle of the lot in a manner that creates an open front lawn. The scale of this area often gives a feeling of an anonymous “no-man’s land” because of its openness and undefined edges.

2. Driveway Dominates View. The driveway is a dominant visual element of many front yards . This extensive area of asphalt or concrete is generally not very appealing to the eye. With cars parked in the driveway, there is often little or no room for people to walk except along the narrow edge or on the lawn.

3. Prominence of Garage Door. A related problem of some front yards is the prominence of the garage door. A garage door that directly faces the street and takes up a large portion of the front of the house becomes a significant visual feature of the front yard. When a driveway is lined with shrubs, the garage door is accentuated even more because a noticeable axis is formed that leads the eye toward the garage door.
4. Entry Walk too Narrow. The walk leading from the driveway to the front door is often about 3 feet wide. This dimension is narrow and forces people to walk in single-file fashion.

5. Entry Walk Hidden from View. Another problem of the entry walk is that it is not easily seen, especially where it connects to the edge of the driveway. In such cases, there is nothing to acknowledge or call attention to the location of the entry walk.
6. Entry Walk Lacks Visual Interest. As a person proceeds along the entry walk, there is very little visual interest. A large open expanse of lawn on one side of the walk and a wall of foundation planting on the other side usually do not provide a memorable experience.

7. Entry Foyer too Small. A concrete pad or stoop located at the front door serves as the outdoor foyer or arrival area. It is often so small that no one can stand on it while the storm or screen door is being opened without getting hit in the face or stepping away from the stoop.

8. Entry Foyer Lacks Enclosure. The entry area or foyer often lacks an adequate sense of separation from the street and the rest of the front yard. The stoop is often exposed directly to the street or even to the neighbor’s house across the street so that everyone can easily see the comings and goings of visitors.