Point de vue

This article deals with the point de vue from landscape architecture, for the feature film of the same name see Point de vue (film)

A point de vue ("point of view", from French) is an eye- catching object at the end of a path, an avenue or a forest lane in garden art , architecture and urban planning . A visual axis can have a point de vue to the visual goal.

The use of the word as a technical term in landscape architecture came up in the middle of the 19th century and is of the meaning that has only been used in French since the 17th century (“ viewpoint ” or “ belvedere ” as a place that offers a clear view of the surroundings allowed) to distinguish.

A point de vue can be designed in different ways: as a usable building, staffage structure or fountain , but also - in a smaller form - as a statue , decorative vase or bush . It prevents the viewer from getting lost in the distance or being distracted by an object that does not belong to the garden. The design of the edge area of ​​the visual axis leads the eye to the point de vue , its structure can contribute to creating spatial depth. A point de vue can also be used in conjunction with a haha trench . A similar eye-catcher , also used as a means of landscape design, is the so-called eye-catcher , which, in contrast to the point de vue, does not have a visual axis.

In traditional Chinese garden art, the point de vue corresponds to the Dui jing (similar to the end vista in English).

Well-known examples can be found in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace (view of the Gloriette ), the gardens of Kinross House (view of Loch Leven Castle ) and in the park of Wilhelmshöhe Palace (view of Hercules ).

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  Point de vue on the Gloriette of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

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  Point de vue on Loch Leven Castle from Kinross House

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  Point de vue on the Hercules from Wilhelmshöhe Castle

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  Point de vue - Parish Church Weissenbach an der Triesting - at the end of a visual axis

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  The Dresden Königstrasse with the Japanese Palace as a point de vue

Literature and Sources

• Michel Conan : Dictionnaire historique de l'art des jardins . Hazan, Paris 1997, ISBN 2-85025-543-2 , pages 187-188.
• Gabriele Uerscheln, Michaela Kalusok: Dictionary of European garden art. 3. Edition. Philipp Reclam jun., Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-15-018656-5 , page 239.

Web links

• Entry in garden aesthetics / garden architecture glossary Point de vue .