Clairvoyee
|
| This clairvoyee looks into the Cherry Garden at Ham House. |
The word clairvoyee (or claire-voie) is a gardening term associated with a 'window' created to display a landscape or vista. It is derived from two French words that can be loosely translated to mean “providing a clear pathway to light”.
They were first introduced into formal French 17th century gardens and subsequently became popular with the English aristocracy who incorporated them into country homes and estates.
They are typically formed by cutting a hole through a hedge, wall, screen, fence or gate. The hole may be covered by a grille, which can be a decorative feature that also serves security purposes.
These openings are intended to reveal to the viewer, a framed scene of another part of the garden or landscape, or of a folly or eyecatcher.
Clairvoyee is also associated with the term clerestory, which is a type of window that is usually found at or near the roof line.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Bridging the gap between clients and contractors
Concerns remain around contractor quality, capability, and delivery.
Construction Management, 10 June.
Heat pumps beat boilers in new home tests.
Building Safety Act implementation in Wales
CIAT to host industry panel on 26 June.
New and updated CLC building safety guidance.
New UK National Buildings Database.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.