Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Some finaL exampLeS of uSinG
Spot eLevationS and contourS
in Site-GradinG deSiGn
Figures 13.16-A through 13.16-C show a series of photographs of a
sunken, terraced gathering area at the California Institute of Technol-
ogy, Pasadena, CA. Essentially, the design of this terraced gathering
area is composed of a watershed-like low point at the lowest elevation
of the space. A series of steps and terraces was designed to define and
articulate the seating and gathering spaces on higher ground. Some of
the steps, identified in Step Two as item E, continue to wrap around the
space, morphing into broad terraces while maintaining a 6-inch step or
rise with varying tread widths.
Step One: The area outlined with a dashed line in Figure 13.16-A
represents the lowest elevation of the gathering area and serves as a
watershed to collect surface water that drains from the upper terraces to
the catch basin (item I).
Step Two: Item A in Figure 13.16-B is the spot elevation at the
entrance to the gathering area. Item B is a spot elevation at the bottom
of the sloping ramp (item C). Item D is the
elevation at the top of the highest seat
wall. Item E circles four steps with the
highest step serving as a seat wall. Each
dashed line that runs along each paved
terrace would have an elevation.
Step Three: The arrows with G1 and
G2 in Figure 13.16-C represent the direc-
tion each terrace would slope; in this
case, they slope at 1 percent. Items G1a
and G2b are the elevation set for each ter-
raced step.
I
H
Figure 13.16-a
Step One shows arrows indicating direc-
tion of surface water flow to catch basin
