Mojave Desert Vista
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Chapter Two — Landscape Design Segments Landscape Design Segments TABLE of CONTENTS Section One: Highway Zones .............................................................................. 2.3 Section Two: Mojave Desert Vista ..................................................................2.15 Section Three: Silver Legends ...........................................................................2.22 Section Four : Great Basin Oasis ......................................................................2.34 Section Five: Pony Express Passage ...............................................................2.49 UNLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & PLANNINGLV RESEARCH Introduction Chapter Two — Landscape Design Segments INTRODUCTION be further divided into highway zones. These cat- nity interface zone. Within this zone, traffic-calm- COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN CONCEPT egories establish program elements and goals that ing techniques are appropriate and pedestrian needs This chapter establishes the design direction for should always be considered when addressing proj- dominate. As communities develop and adjacent land The corridor design concept can be articulated highway landscape and aesthetics. The chapter is ects located along roads with similar characteristics uses change, the highway zone associated with the for both rural and urban segments. In rural organized into five sections. The first section de- (downtowns, transition areas, etc.). new land use and development can be updated. Fig- or predominately undeveloped areas, the scribes program elements that relate to the high- ures 9 thru 11 (on pages 2.4, 2.5, and 2.9) illustrate highway should blend with the natural way type under consideration and its surrounding For example, every low-speed road that travels the design objectives associated with the General landscape. The presence of the road is muted land uses. Sections two through five describe the through a downtown area is considered a commu- Highway Categories. by design interpretations of naturally occurring design objectives associated with each landscape patterns of geology, vegetation, and soils. The design segment and its theme. These design ob- Figure 7 - Corridor Organizing Elements. successful emulation of these patterns results jectives clarify how the program elements should GENERAL* in a landscape environment that avoids the distinct separation between road and land look. HIGHWAY TYPES HIGHWAY ZONES/ that often characterizes rural highways. DESIGN OBJECTIVES Figure 7 illustrates the two main categories used URBAN CONFLUENCE URBAN FREEWAYS In urban areas, the perception of community to organize highways as they relate to landscape High-speed, high-volume, controlled access and aesthetics. Information derived from both cat- roads. Includes elevated highways and URBAN BACKGROUND character is often shaped by a highway’s design some bypasses. egories is analyzed to design both the functional MANAGED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER and its features. This is especially evident when aspects and physical form of highway facilities. a highway also serves as a community’s “Main Street.” Creating a coherent visual environment COMMUNITY INTERFACE General Highway Categories consider factors such CITY STREETS that unifies a community is key to the success Slower-speed, high volume roads that pass as the road type, speed and volume of travel, type through a community with the potential for many COMMUNITY TRANSITION of the highway system. The highway should different adjacent land uses. consist of a range of landscape treatments that of access, and the densities of adjacent land use. MANAGED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER focus attention on important places, reveal • Goals associated with the general catego- ries represent planning and design ideas community character and information, and that should always be considered for roads RURAL HIGHWAYS PRESERVED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER blend the roadway with surrounding uses. with similar functions High-speed, lower volume road with very low- density residential, agricultural, or open space adjacent land uses. SCENIC DESIGNATION Context-Sensitive Categories consider place spe- cific features – environment, culture, and history. CONTEXT-SENSITIVE** • Goals describe how general design objec- THEME tives should look DESIGN OBJECTIVES LANDSCAPE DESIGN Section One: Highway Zones/ SEGMENT SPECIFIC FEATURES Design Objectives DESIGN INTERPRETATION The Master Plan organizes road systems into differ- * General: Includes design goals and objectives that should always be considered during the design of a project as it relates ent highway types: urban freeways, city streets, and to the types of surrounding land uses, development, and street patterns regardless of the landscape design segment in which rural highways. Highway types are categorized ac- they are located. ** Context-sensitive: Includes themes, design goals and objectives, and projects that relate specifically to the landscape design cording to the type of road, the speed and volume of segment in which they are located. The goals and objectives should be considered in addition to the general goals travel, and the type of access. Each classification may and objectives. 2.1 Chapter Two — Landscape Design Segments Introduction Chapter Two — Landscape Design Segments SECTION TWO: Mojave Desert Vista Sections Two through Five: Landscape Using the Landscape Design Segments DESIGN INTERPRETATION SUMMARY Theme and Design Interpretation Mojave Desert Vista Interpretation of the segment’s design themes occurs during individual project design. The corridor plan establishes the direction for project level design. Examples illustrate The segment theme describes the vision for the segment in terms Landscape design segments provide an orga- forms and materials that could be used to accomplish the stated design objectives. Design Segments of how the highway should appear. Images that depict how the The last four sections describe the design objec- nizational tool for applying design concepts theme may be interpreted and applied through individual project Photo courtesy of K. Helphand, 2002, p. 190. (4) The elegant use of native material compliments the natural landscape. design are provided. tives, theme, and specific features associated along the highway. After understanding the with each landscape design segment. Landscape project components that may be applied (1) Native rock walls echo the existing rock material and (2) Appropriate colors and materials (3) Architectural forms that echo natural forms fit seemlessly into the form. enhance the natural setting. landscape. design segments organize the highway into areas within each highway zone (community in- of similar character based upon elements such terface, managed landscape character, etc.), (5) Vibrant native vegetation provides visual interest. as topography, plant communities, and commu- it is important to understand the theme and nity development. Segments set the major design design objectives of the segment. These ele- (9) Contrasting materials and color and native vegetation allow structures to blend into their environments. (6) Pedestrian friendly streetscape elements, such as (7) Shade structures add to the architectural (8) Architectural elements consistent with the desert climate are theme and provide a unifying design concept that ments describe how the features should look. bump-outs for crossings and angled parking, help interest and relate to the areas’s culture at rest appropriate in desert landscapes. highways integrate with communities. areas. 2.18 is interpreted during individual project design. Design interpretation images provide physi- CONTINUE ON MAP B3 Stonewall ENTIRE CORRIDOR JOSHUA TREE PRESERVATION 1 PULL-OFF AND KIOSK WITH TRAVEL 5 Mountain 3 cal examples of potential projects. Support- INFORMATION FOR LIDA AND GOLD POINT 4 COORDINATE POTENTIAL REGIONAL TRAIL CONNECTIONS WITH ESMERALDA Specific Features Figure 8 describes the way in which landscape de- SR 266 Gold Flat Lida SR 266 2 DEER CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROJECT 3 PLACE NAME SIGNAGE COORDINATION WITH SILVER TRAILS PROGRAM 105 Potential projects and improvements identified within the ing maps, sections, aerial photos, and imagery SR 71 3 COMPLETE REST AREA AND 1 UTILIZE SCATTERED ROCK MULCH TO sign segments are used to develop context sensi- Gold Point RECREATIONAL GATEWAY TO CONTROL DUST Slate Ridge 100 DEATH VALLEY LEGEND 7 ROAD SHOULDER ENHANCEMENT FOR segment. Projects are grouped into six categories – community, 3 SIGNAGE FOR TIMBISHA INDIAN VEHICLE RECOVERY WHILE MAINTAINING COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES 95 Scotty’s RESERVATION INTEGRITY OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE 1. Statewide gateway Junction 2. Community gateway Pah CONSIDER PASSING LANES IN RURAL AREAS illustrate the design objectives and appropri- 3. Pedestrian linkage & circulation ut 7 travel and tourism, planting, natural resource and wildlife, views e tive designs. 4. Bike & multi-use trail linkage Mes RATHER THAN THROUGH COMMUNITIES 90 5. Highway archaeology, cultural, or historic Nevada a awareness 6. Highway & community compatibility California US 95 3 PLACE NAME SIGN FOR SARCOBATUS FLAT improvement 85 and landmarks, and roadway practices and structures. 7. Partnerships & resource leveraging NEVADA TEST SITE Papoose ate application throughout the corridor. TRAVEL & TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES 80 TRAIL 1. Roadside Services SR 267 3 PLACE NAME SIGN FOR NEVADA TEST SITE Lake 2. Viewpoints & points of interest Flat ORIC 3. Travel information program Sarcobatus 75 4. Highway