Page 16 - San Marcos, TX Design Manual

A

Design Guidelines APPENDIX

Section A.1.4.4 CD-5D Expression - Four-Sided Design 3. Incorporate active uses and/or pedestrian-friendly features
on the ground floor to encourage an enjoyable pedestrian
A. Overview. A building’s façade strongly impacts the pedestrian experience.
experience on an adjacent public space, such as a sidewalk
or open amenity space. All building sides should be designed D. Wall Classification Examples. The following Table 1.4
for public view, using building form and architectural details to illustrates the differences in wall treatments for a new building,
create visual interest. The degree of detail may vary depending ranging from “high priority” walls to those that are less of a
on the location of the wall, but some architectural detail is priority. The intent is to ensure that all building walls include
needed because a blank or featureless building façade can pedestrian-friendly features, but that the degree to which
diminish interest. Thus, the design of a new building should be these features are incorporated is appropriate based on the
considered “in the round.” This applies to buildings and parking location of the wall. The strategy illustrated in this table should
structures in the zone district. be applied when considering Section 4.3.5.4 “Expression
Elements” of the Development Code.
B. Wall Classification. Early in the design process, determine
which type of wall classification (primary, secondary or
tertiary) applies to each side of the building. Primary walls
have a higher priority, while secondary and tertiary walls have
a lower priority respectively. Key factors to determine priorities
for wall treatment are:

2. Proximity to a public way (a street or walkway)

3. Proximity to a sensitive edge

4. Assigned primary frontage

5. Service access

C. Design Guidelines. In order to effectively design a new building
to be four-sided in nature, design a building to provide interest
on all sides that will be viewed from the public realm.

1. All faces of a building should include architectural details
to reduce the visual impact of a “back side.” Visual interest
can be provided through a variety of methods, including:
a. Windows and doors

b. Building articulation techniques

c. Site walls and raised planters (A site wall is typically a
short wall at the edge of a property. A small planting
area between the sidewalk and the building would be
created and a site wall would define the property line
at the sidewalk.)

d. Decorative wall treatments

2. Incorporate more visual interest techniques on primary
walls to differentiate from secondary and tertiary walls.

San Marcos Design Manual A:17