12 Long, inspiring views were key to the Beaux Arts school’s marriage of street, architecture, and landscape The “palaces” built on Mass Ave between about 1900 and 1920 conformed to Beaux Arts designs and rules Yet they were democratic Though individually they are showy, they also harmonize with each other and the larger idea of the street As explained in Grand American Avenue, the owners shared a vision of “a continuous parklike environment of houses, not separated by fences, but knit together in a picturesque sequence of lawns and trees and sidewalks and paving ”25 Architects took advantage of triangular lots, especially when visible from afar along the thoroughfare Robinson wrote in 1903: “Because these streets are diagonal in reference to the street systems they cross [a triangular] site may offer noble architectural opportunity”26 Harmony and unity prevailed The mansion entrances and key features were spaced to create rhythmically connected views Landscape can enhance the traveler’s sense of being in one elegant, connected space Or landscape can destroy this experience Early photos show that public land or “parking” in front of the buildings was left as lawn edged by low evergreens to frame the architectural highlights • Building shapes and facades should respect the overall lines of the street. • Beaux Arts avenues, as in Paris, observe strict rules for horizontal building lines (rustication, cornice, window height) and vertical elements (entrances and windows). • The biggest landscape features should strengthen the lines of the street. Evenly spaced, similar trees can reinforce horizontal and vertical street lines. Fig. 20 This famous image of 2315, 2311, and 2305 Mass Ave shows how landscape enhances the lines of the street. The low hedge and lawn enhance the horizontal lines; the row of tall trees strengthens the vertical lines. The impressive ‘prow’ on the triangular lot of 2315 Mass is meant to be admired from far up the avenue. Principle: Respect the lines of the street
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