Columbia River Highway in Troutdale, Oregon
No Detail is too Small!
 

      
Small details
      can make or break great street designs. This street corner demonstrates
      at least three examples: the tiny rockscape was installed on
      a curb extension where landscaping was impractical, and simple
      paving was a rejected as an uninteresting alternative. The brick
      retaining wall also has subtle details that make it interesting,
      including sophistocated perennial plantings in the main bed,
      and a "pocket"bed along the base. A final detail is
      the curb signage in the lower left, which calls attention to
      the fact that storm drains lead to prime salmon habitat in the
      nearby Sandy River.


      
Each of these
      elements fall outside the typical municipal design code, and
      illustrate the importance of individuals championing specific
      design details as projects are developed.

      
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 All images
      are ©Tom Kloser, 2001, and may only be used by permission