Vaux le Vicomte

This Partee consists of a circular shaped pond that acts as a point of reflection for the design and the radial organization of the paths leading up to it.
             The hierarchy of the design is quite apparently the large palace that the gardens surround (figure 7). This is obvious because the palace is the tallest structure in the gardens, and many of the gardens paths lead directly or indirectly to the palace. The palace itself is very important to the design of the garden as a whole. It organizes the circulation spaces in the landscape and provides a focal point for the beautiful gardens to enhance. These circulation spaces create a kind of datum that also organizes the garden in a somewhat radial manner (figure 8). The spaces are not necessarily in a symmetrical pattern, but are systematically laid out in specific proportions that are important to the landscape.
             Unlike at Versailles, Le Notre decided not to use symmetry in his design. Although the axis divides two halves that are very similar, they are in fact different dimensions, and are not symmetrical (figure 4). The proportions used throughout the design were based primarily on two measurements and were repeated in various patterns (figure 9). Proportion "A- relates mainly to the width of the eastern half of the design, while proportion "B- relates to the width of the western half. Proportion "B- was also used for many of the measurements that organized the design in the north-south direction.
             In landscapes, there are vertical, horizontal, and water elements. Vaux-le-Vicomte has all three of these. The palace acts as the main vertical element in the design, and is complimented with the small outbuildings that are placed near it. Also the occasional fountain provides another vertical piece. The horizontal aspect consists mainly of groundcover, and circulation areas. The element of water is all around the landscape. There are several ponds, reflection pools, and a moat that surrounds the palace, that serve as both vertical and horizontal elements, but as water elements as well.