Sustainable Land Development Today - November/December 2007 - (Page 39) Looking Up That brings one to the vertical streetfront. One school of thought is that retailers should have free rein in the design of their store fronts; that is, take the building structure “off the ground” in terms of its visibility, creating a virtually unbroken expanse of glass at street level. However, this can easily result in visual chaos. Generally, a more cohesive streetscape is created when the structure imposes some discipline at ground level. An effective way to achieve this is to bring the building structure down to the sidewalk, with framed openings of 15 to 30 feet wide and 10 to 12 feet in height creating an area where individual retailers van insert storefront designs that express their brands, creating an interesting and varied experience for pedestrians. It is also important to vary the articulation of the building facades from ground level to 20 feet, which is about the limit of pedestrians’ vertical gaze, to maintain visual interest and create recesses for outdoor cafes and pocket parks. At the same time, planners and designers must be careful to avoid “burying” retailers in these recesses. There is a fine line between a hard, rigid street front and one that reduces retailers’ visibility from the street. Ultimately, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use design keeps people’s feet on the ground because it creates a vibrant environment that invites residents and visitors to experience all that the community has to offer. SLDT About the author: Douglas Carter, AIA, is president of Davis Carter Scott, a full-service architectural firm specializing in landplaning, architecture and interior architecture, based in Northern Virginia. Circle 156 • or www.SLDTonline.com/adinfo www.SLDTonline.com 39 http://invisiblestructures.com http://www.SLDTonline.com/adinfo http://www.SLDTonline.com
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