Desert Vernacular: Green Building and Ecological Design in Scottsdale, Arizona - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 492

Citywide design objectives

Scottsdale
Sensitive
Design
Principles

Citywide
design
guidelines

Citywide
architecture

Citywide
landscape

Citywide
Site planning

Citywide
lighting

Citywide
gas stations
and
convenience
stores

Citywide
parking
structures

Citywide
office

Citywide
restaurants

Citywide
commercial

FIGURE 28.4
Scottsdale Sensitive Design Principles provide uniform design objectives from the city wide planning level
down to the building site level and applies to all building project types.

3. Development should be sensitive to existing topography and landscaping. The
design should respond to the unique terrain of the site by blending with the natu-
ral shape and texture of the land while minimizing disturbances to the natural
features of the site.

4. Development should protect the character of the Sonoran Desert by preserving
and restoring natural habitats and ecological processes.

5. The design of the public realm, including streetscapes, parks, plazas, and civic
amenities, is an opportunity to provide regional identity and character to the
community. Streetscapes should provide design continuity among adjacent uses
through landscaping, textured paving, street furniture, public art, and integrated
infrastructure.

6. Development should integrate alternative modes of transportation, including
bicycles and transit service access, within the pedestrian network that encourage
social contact and interaction within the community.

7. Development should show consideration for the pedestrian by providing land-
scaping and shading elements including pedestrian connections to adjacent
development. Design elements should account for human scale and the daily/
seasonal angles of the sun with a sensitivity to building configuration and
massing.

8. Buildings should be designed with a logical hierarchy of masses to control the visual
impact of height and size. The building design should also highlight important
building volumes and features, such as the building entry and courtyards.

9. The design of the built environment should respond to the desert environment.
Interior spaces should be extended into the outdoors both physically and visually.
Incorporate regional materials with natural integral colors and coarse textures that
are associated with the Sonoran Desert region. The materials should be used to