The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-15

and Hromontories of shrubbery and tree
foliage masses. The lines of this balus-
trade wall are carried to. and the design
duplicated in, a longer wall which in the
distance opposite marks the exchange In
Typographical elevation and the tree
growth edges of the great lawn. The
balustrade is above a wide seat facing a
brick patterned pavement. At either END
of the platform steps descend to lesser
levels where shaded seats face the steps
leading to lateral paths. You will note
that the shrub masses are omitted In line
of axis for q width which carries the
lines of these steps to similar steps in a
central formal scheme opposite. Where
these shrub masses here terminate 1t Is
proposed to use pyramidal evergrsens to
mark the formally and effect transition
from taller Lombardy poplars and more
naturalistic masses oe other deciduous
tree and shrub foliage to the plain lines of
the great lawn.
THE lateral walk first leads straight
in either direction, and Is terminated with
seat beneath a tree surrounded by
shrubbery. whence 1t separates, taking
curved lines encircling the main lawn
opening and the lesser ones, and following
the shade as far as possible and Is Dor
dered by rolling surfaces of Towering
shrubbery.
"At the other end of the park entrance
Is made between two posts at the ends OF
walls and descends to small platform
squarely overlooking an immediate open
lawn. Again from side platforms steps
lead down to walks which follow easy
grades along the shrub-bordered space for
a caretaker's Toulouse with attractive
doors facing lower walk which at this
point Is subdued with shrub growth. This
H. 1N{v rnVyfn mo
toned and together they form the boun-
diaries of not only the great lawn. but also
of three lesser lawns.
Opportunity for Games
1.-THE openness and level Of the great
lawn affords an opportunity for such
games as pitchball, croQuet. tag, bowling
and possible Maypole exercises and gen.
eral romping. The next largest lawn az
fords space and topography ana SUI
flcient open for archery or quots and the
like, while on the lesser, more secluded
lawns, more completely surrounded by
trees and shrubbery with shady locations
for seats permanent see-saws might well
be erected and swings and sandboxes Tor
small children.
"All the walks in circuitous routes
with naturaIistic borders lead to tho
main central formal architectural set
terrace having for it's major axis the
main axis of the park. This terrace
Is rectangular In form and built up
with a wall, the greatest height OF
which is on an axis and which grad
lually diminishes as the natural grace
rises to it's ends. The central lea
ture Is a wide simple basin to con-
tain water of smooth surface Tor
reflection. This basin would hold
about 1852 cubic feet. which should De
changed at least twice a week. "A geyser
spout automatically operated IN al
ternate bursts in the backflow or It's
os,, rinnla NAV prove interesting and
| refrashinr in sound In case this seems
| roo exnensive the circle coping may ne
ratained and filled with soil from grow
Ing grass and low formal planting
This basin Is surrounded by prich
pavement to be patterned IN ioriii
somewhat along the lines shown In
nr,nt or a central circle In square,
the through lines running parellel Win
the axis and being terminated at steps
and posts on the one hand ana Win
ornamental objects of interest in
walled setting at the other. Near ,ne
long balustraded wall fiat concrete
seats face both the basin and the great
lawn. while at the opposite end the
pavement rises to a step In long
curve to where long curved seat
hacks against a wall following similar
lines and having dominant raised
feature set back fiat In the center
which may we'll contain a delicate in
scription. This wall should have a
heavy background of tall shrubbery
compl ementing the existing tree growth
and extending around three sides of the
terrace parallelogram. On the minor
n fv,A1 al
the pavement extended formally to
small secluded courts facing pool and
to be surrounded by tall shrubbery
where seats may be placed in the shade
of existing trees. You will note that
Individual seats terminate other walks
of this parallelogram.
"All trees have been retained even
though 1t may be necessary to build
somewhat around few for their pro-
lection from filling.
Hence, to refer back to the cross
section on line of main axis, you will
perceive that the intent has been to
increase the existing height at bounds
and entrances, retain the natural con-
tours. of the natural lawn areas, and
take ADVANCE of the natural sugges-
ton of small open terrace heavily sur
rounded by tree growth for the cen-
trail formal setting. subdueing the park
borders and adding to the privacy and
new form of distinct interior features.
OF course, 1t will take time to develop
the planting effects.
Original and Unique
at is my desire to have the archi-
tectural features original and unique,
the walls being made of cement, pos
sibly pebble-dash surface except on
seats and their backs and adorned with
tapestry brick. They should be of the
rounded type and massive and
the brick should be set out in loose
pattern. that is. not even-s sided panels
but rather in open and irregular ar
tstic forms with wide variety of
color The two balustrades also should
be made of brick with cement rail. The
entire color scheme for the use of
material is to lead up to and en-
phasize the position of inscription. The
interior of basin might be slightly or
namental. The architectural features
though separated are part of n unified
SCHEME. the lines carrying with the
view and on same axis and I wish en-
phatically to urge that no architectural
features be introduced except as Is fit
ting refined and unostentatious. ap
propriately forming a natural part OF
reasonable and original Improvement
Of the park in keeping with the motive
which the general characteristics of the
park demand. The enforced archi-
tectural features as suggested may
alone as whole or as a part serve
we'll their stated purposes, as well as
any other which may be desired.
1.-THE seats separated from archs-