Focal Point

Focal points, closely associated with views, are visual accents or elements that are unique and stand out in contrast to their surroundings, such as a gnarled tree, a water feature, attractive spring flowers, a piece of sculpture, or a large tree. It is important to plan the location of focal points in functional diagrams so they can be coordinated with views. Focal points should be strategically placed to highlight special points of the landscape. They should not be overused and scattered indiscriminately throughout an area, as this will create a chaotic appearance requiring the eye to look at too many dif­ferent accents. A few graphic examples for focal points are shown in Figure 8—30.