 Southeast Archaeology  Photography   Nature  Land Use  Forestry 


Home. Archaeology. Photography. Nature. Land Use. Forestry. Thoughts. Contact. Home. Archaeology. Photography. Nature. Land Use. Forestry. Thoughts. Contact.


All Rights Reserved.

All Images and Material

© 2010-2017

MauryMiller.com



Site Design By

Susan T. Miller

MillerAngles.com


It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Green . . .


Why can’t we build simple buildings with traditional lines and landscaped in a low key manner using a blend of native species of plants which could capture “the spirit of the place.”  What else could be more in keeping with communities?  Even as pragmatic a place as a car wash could be made to blend with community values and be structured in such a way that customers could actually enjoy their visit.

Nothing fancy-schmancy, just plain honest to goodness architecture that reflects commonplace building traditions.

Most new buildings in Tennessee are not built this way and do not even come close to resembling anything decent.  They seem raw and artificial.  They should be more in keeping with the area’s natural scenic character.

One should design around what is already existing whether it is a beautiful stand of trees or a natural coomb or a swale (which offers opportunities for creating inviting water features) or even an alluring stream.  If one uses this route, then one would not have to plant mature trees and shrubs and other plantings which cost thousands of dollars but instead would have instant free landscaping.

The typical engineering response to such situations is to envelop these streams in box culverts and pave over the top or even move a stream from its natural bed.

On another plane, why can’t we grow smarter?  We can.  We have to realize that ugliness of past development is directly related to inadequate zoning standards.

What should be required is actually what townspeople really want to see, “rather than to permit whatever the lowest common denominator will produce” (Smart Development for Quality Communities).  “Communities adopting low standards will achieve poor results all the time.  Those that require better results will achieve them routinely.  It is as simple as that.”  (Smart Development for Quality Communities)

As a salient point, we need to find a way that would be beneficial of taking advantages of older buildings and incorporate them into plans for new commercial development.  New building designs could play off the older vernacular architecture of the older buildings.

All of these ideas have to do with smart growth and the way we design the land.

 How do we design the land?  We do it by walking the land.  One should follow the topography.  Good development should follow topography.

Also one designs the land by using the brain and not a computer.  A computer is not the answer all the time.

Freehand sketches are another important aspect of planning the land correctly.  This is the same principle that I try to apply when I plan my photographic shots.

Speaking of photographic shots, it is always a good idea to take a camera into the field with you so that you can make some photographs of salient features.  These will come in handy back at the office.  The great value of these images lies in their display of detailed information, and second, in the ability they can lend to reading ground form and elevation.

When a structure gets built on the landscape, the design making processes should not be left up to just architects, or just engineers, or just site planners, but the decisions should be decided by all involved – a team effort!

With the appropriate education and the right tools with which to work, and the right people working together, we can have a “greener vision.”


Please note  —

When I say a “greener vision,” I am not saying that as a severe environmentalist.  I am not a severe environmentalist, and environmentalism should not be carried to extremes.  God did make the environment and put it here for the benefit of the man He created to use — but not for man to abuse.

  - Maury Miller III