Pattern 168
Connection to the Earth
Context Building Edge160 · Arcades119 · Private Terrace on the Street140 · Gallery Surround166 · Six-Foot Balcony167
Problem
Buildings often get set up on a kind of pedestal above the surrounding ground, with a sharp edge between the structure and the earth. That leaves the house feeling lifted clear of its site, and the transition outward stays abrupt instead of gradual.
Solution
Tie the building closely to the ground around it with stepped terraces, low walls, stairs, and planting beds, so a gradual transition forms between house and earth instead of a hard break.
Usage Entrance Room130 · Private Terrace on the Street140 · Outdoor Room163 · Terraced Slope169 · Ground Floor Slab215 · Soft Tile and Brick248 · Paving with Cracks Between the Stones247