Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Landscape Design/Pedestrian Paths

[Prescott Nichols (pnichols]

Consider pervious concrete paving. It is just like concrete paving, only no
sand is added to the mix. Makes excellent parking areas and footpaths. Has
some limitations, like not for busy roadways or play surfaces. It looks like
a rice crispy cake in cross section. We've used it successfully for several
civic projects in California's central valley.

For more information, including benefits, limitations, and installed
examples: http://www.concretenetwork.com/pervious/index.html.

Feel free to contact me for more information as well, including a technical
specification for the work.

  _____  

Prescott Nichols, AIA 
mailto:pnichols [at] indigoarch.com
Muir Commons, Davis CA
 


-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Scheer [mailto:karen [at] monkeyhouse.org] 
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 4:55 PM
To: Cohousing-L
Cc: Melanie Mindlin
Subject: [C-L]_ Landscape Design/Pedestrian Paths


Hello cohousing friends!

Our cohousing group here in Ashland is getting very busy finalizing  
the landscape plans.  In designing our pedestrian paths, we would  
like to create organically styled (flowing around natural contours  
and human movement, ie. not linear) pathways that would create areas  
for gardening, privacy and play in our common outdoor space.  Our  
landscape architect is suggesting 1/4 minus Decomposed Granite (DG)  
for the pathways.  There is some concerns about this material and how  
well it will work.  Does it tend to track into homes and other  
places?  Does it need a lot of repairs to prevent muddy spots?  Does  
anyone have any experiences with this or suggestions for other  
materials to consider?

Also, we are looking at ways to make the "driveway" past the parking  
area pervious (rather than paved) so that water can flow through and  
we can have an open grass lawn.  This area needs to be able to  
support the weight of the occasional car or fire truck so we are  
planning to reinforce it with a material that is being described as  
"egg-crate" below the surface of the grass.  If anyone has any  
experience with this type of pervious surfacing or other suggestion  
we would love to know more about it.

I'd like to wish everyone a very peaceful holiday season filled with  
presence, magical moments & laughter.  Reading the emails that come  
in through this list everyday, I am inspired by who you all are and  
your commitment to community.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond!

-Karen Scheer
Fordyce Street Cohousing Community
Ashland, Oregon
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