Taking time to see the architecture, landscaping and setting

[ledge]

My home design proposes to have guests park 125' from the entrance and walk across a level path to the entrance. We are excavating a construction/service road to an upper entrance for limited use or owner use. My site made this the only way to set this up but now I see this sort of access happening at a luxury home in the mountains on an internet site, http://mvtshomedesign.com/port2.php3 and think it might be fairly common. I guess this is intended to make guests park and enjoy the view of the home and its immediate surroundings while on foot. Right?

[csintexas]

I don't know why they did it. 125' isn't all that far unless the weather is bad. For convenience sake most of our friends would use our service entry and only more formal guest would use the main entry. There could be some liability issue if the path is not lighted and maintained well.

[lekizz]

The house in your link is obviously in a picturesque setting amongst trees and, like you say, i imagine the walk from the lake through the woodlands, slowly revealling the house, could be delightful. There is a strong tradition, particularly japanese influence, of zig-zag paths and other devices to control your journey to the front door of a house. If you have a great house, then you want your guests to stand back and appreciate it, don't you

[sabe]

a winding path with random low-lux spot lights on the grassland besides is my first choice at my front yard although i know it is lots of caring & maintenance works for the grassland.

[ledge]

"There is a strong tradition, particularly japanese influence, of zig-zag paths and other devices to control your journey to the front door of a house."
So based upon lekizz' statement quoted above every space both inside and outside the house needs careful evaluation. How does one feel upon entering the space? While in the space conducting the activity for which the space is intended what does one see outside and inside? What does lighting do here? Windows, colors, textures, lighting, treatments, etc. need to be suitable. My architect has completed the floor sketch plans so I guess now it is up to me to imagine how I would live in the spaces. Is there a list of criteria or a menu of food for thought here? We are going to build a model so that should be helpful. My site with the huge rock outcrops is so great I hate to think that the home may not be just right.

Thanks for any comments.