The Five Components of a Beautiful Street

Have you ever turned onto a street for the first time and felt a magical quality that appeals to your senses? You look to the left and right and think, “Wow, this is nice.” Why are some streets charming and memorable, while others are bland and forgettable? What characteristics create an aesthetically pleasing streetscape? Last week, while writing about the The Five Most Beautiful City Streets in Nashville, TN, I realized there were similar qualities in each one. They each had The Five Components of a Beautiful Street:

5. Evenly sized lots and setbacks. The consistent arrangement of houses in equal distances from the street creates a pleasant sense of order. It is visually satisfying. When executed for several blocks, the houses take on the look of a perforated wall. When both sides of the street achieve this, it provides an environment of enclosure. On the other hand, haphazard setbacks and erratic lot spacing feel confusing and less regulated. Equal spacing and setbacks allow all of the structures to contribute together as a team, and their sum is greater than the individual houses.

4. Alleys and no garage doors facing the street. Alleys are very valuable for what they keep off of the street. Garbage and recycling cans, lawn clippings, and even the occasional non-functioning vehicle all have a place behind houses, away from public presentation. Alleys keep the street clutter-free and also provide access to detached garages. Since the 1960’s, typical subdivision houses have attached garages that face the street. Over time, housing plans with single car garages have morphed into two and three car garages. Some home designs have a recessed front door while the garage protrudes toward the street. When combined with a wide driveway, it appears that the whole house places the highest priority on the automobile. In recent years, the garage doors themselves have undergone some attempts at looking more stylish. Unfortunately they are still big, flat covers at the end of the driveway. While front-facing garages offer convenience, they don’t offer much curb appeal.

3. Mature trees. One of the leading reasons some home buyers prefer older, established neighborhoods compared to newer subdivisions is for the large trees. Trees provide blooms in the spring, shade in the summer, color in the autumn, and white wonder in the winter. They soften the environment. They are refreshingly natural in a primarily man-made setting, balancing out the asphalt and concrete. Large trees improve air quality and also furnish a habitat for birds and small animals. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts to getting mature trees. The recipe requires time, and decades of it. When streets have a tree lawn, sometimes called a sidewalk buffer or road verge, their aesthetic appeal jumps immensely. When this area is lined with trees, it frames the roadway and sidewalks. Some streets have an especially beautiful quality when the trees are large enough on both sides of the roadway that their limbs meet in the middle, creating a lush canopy overhead.

tree lawn photo from wikipedia

2. Sidewalks. In order to fully engage in a wonderful street, individuals need to have safe passage other than in the automobile’s path. Sidewalks provide safety for walkers, joggers, mail delivery, and children playing. They also make a clean transition from the roadway to the curb and from the curb to the front yard. Houses that have sidewalks that run parallel to the street usually have a perpendicular private sidewalk that leads to the front door. This appears very welcoming and connects the house to the neighborhood grid of walkways. Where there are no sidewalks by the road, there is often only a driveway that leads to the house. Guests and visitors aren’t extended the same type of welcome that directs them to the front door. Sidewalks are also the setting for many conversations with neighbors. It is an informal meeting place, where people can exchange pleasantries and pet each other’s dogs without the concern for a wayward motorist. Sidewalks lead to greater connectivity within a street and neighborhood.

1. Interesting architecture. A street could have even setbacks, alleys, no garage doors facing it, mature trees, and sidewalks, but it could still be quite ho-hum. The architecture is what sets apart the best streets. Different design trends may come and go, but well-designed homes have timeless appeal. They have windows and doors that are appropriately sized. They often incorporate front or side porches and use symmetry to their advantage. The best house designs never overlook the details. Every dormer, post, eave, and trim piece were given careful consideration by the architect. The most beautiful streets have different variations on a few styles of houses, but the styles aren’t drastically different, such as cottages and bungalows. The dwellings are definitely not cookie-cutter, nor are they ostentatious. Instead, they are often constructed of brick, stone, or clapboard, and feature welcoming entryways. Again, the house isn’t meant to stand alone on an island, but it was built to scale with the terrain and neighboring houses taken into consideration. The best architecture doesn’t get stale after multiple viewings. Instead, those passing by appreciate another aspect of the house they hadn’t seen before. A new detail emerges. A new appreciation is born. And the timelessness of good design continues.