Views are another factor that should be studied in a functional diagram. What a person sees or doesn’t see from a space or a particular point within a space is important to the overall organization and experience of a design. During the development of a functional diagram, the designer concentrates on those views that are most significant to the major spaces of the design. The different types of views studied are (1) panoramic views or vistas, (2) concentrated or focused views, and (3) blocked views.
Panoramic View or Vista This type of view takes in a wide area and often emphasizes a view in the landscape that is some distance from the viewer. It is an encompassing view. A view to a distant mountain range, to the valley below, or out onto an adjoining golf course are a few examples. When these views extend off the site to adjoining or distant points in the landscape, they are referred to as borrowed landscapes. These are typically good views that a designer attempts to enframe or, at the very least, leave unobstructed so they become part of the design’s visual experience. Figure 8—27 shows graphic examples of a panoramic view.
Figure 8-26
Graphic examples of secondary circulation.
Concentrated or Focused View This type of view focuses on a particular point in the landscape, such as a piece of sculpture, a unique tree, or a bed of showy flowers. A concentrated view may be to a point either on or off the site. Figure 8—28 shows how a concentrated view might be shown in a functional diagram.
Blocked View This type of view is an undesirable view that needs to be screened. High plant materials, walls, fences, and so on can all be used to block unsightly views. Graphic examples for indicating blocked views are illustrated in Figure 8—29.
