What is a Landscape?
The advisement of certain landscape
definitions
… because it is so personal, I cannot teach you about
“the landscape”; I can merely tell you about “my landscape”.
Peter J. Howard, An
introduction to landscape
… landscape is not only concerned with the countryside
or matters of heritage, it is not just a physical entity.
Kathryn Moore, A New Look at Landscape
Updated 12.04.2020
I come to the conclusion that it is essential to consider some prevalent definitions of the landscape that occur in dictionaries and Internet. I deem that a notion must have one definition independently of the sphere of it`s using. The term «landscape» use in different living domains and isn’t solely geographical, ecological or artistic, therefore different specialists oblige to proceed from the same definition. Moreover, such definition hasn’t to differ from a common usage essentially. We are faced with intricate appearance of the landscape and although many authorities in this field of landscape exploration suppose, that landscape is a tangible, physical entity, I consider it as a mental appearance. It proposes to conduct the debate on this topic. Let’s scrutinize some definitions.
I come to the conclusion that it is essential to consider some prevalent definitions of the landscape that occur in dictionaries and Internet. I deem that a notion must have one definition independently of the sphere of it`s using. The term «landscape» use in different living domains and isn’t solely geographical, ecological or artistic, therefore different specialists oblige to proceed from the same definition. Moreover, such definition hasn’t to differ from a common usage essentially. We are faced with intricate appearance of the landscape and although many authorities in this field of landscape exploration suppose, that landscape is a tangible, physical entity, I consider it as a mental appearance. It proposes to conduct the debate on this topic. Let’s scrutinize some definitions.
The bold type – initial texts, red type – my
commentaries, dark blue type – the quotation
in my commentaries.
Hutchinson N. Landscapes Both Invite and Defy
Definition // GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION V. 29, 2016 –
It is a very useful publication as we have a
consideration of different variants of landscape definitions. The author gives such
from the ACARA Glossary (Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], (n.d.). Glossary entry for
Landscape) - http://v7-5.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Glossary/Index?a=G&t=Landscape
that is following: Visible appearance of an area, created by a combination of geological,
geomorphological, biological and cultural layers that have evolved over time,
and as perceived, portrayed and valued by people. A geomorphic landscape is the
landscape without the biological and cultural layers.
I think a landscape isn’t a «visible appearance», it is an image of some area
correct terrain. I think it is created not by layers but some processes -
geological, geomorphological, biological and anthropological – that leave
traces on the day-surface (visible surface). This means that not the landscape
is organized, but the structure of the day-surface under the influence of
various processes integrated into the landscape-forming process, and our
consciousness organizes this structure into landscape. A landscape isn’t
portrait as it is integral image, true inscape. So, the landscape is, rather,
the face of the terrain, and it is not the face as the face surface but the face
as image, but we do not read the face but the structure of the surface as a
text, then the landscape is understood as a common sense. I think that a
geomorphic landscape can implicate some traces of biological and particularly
anthropological origin such as termitary, excavation so on. I use the «day
surface» or «day-surface»
instead of «surface
of the earth» so such a statement is not accurate enough - it is unclear what surface
should be considered as the Earth's surface.
Very helpful post!
Oxford Dictionary of Geography:
An area, the appearance of an area, or the gathering
of objects which produce that appearance. Carl Sauer first used the term in
geography in 1925, stressing the concept of the landscape as the expression of
interaction between humans and their environment.
It is important to
connect the appearance of an area (as a terrain) with landscape. A landscape is
not the area or territory and, accordingly, isn’t characterized by metric
units. The Carl Sauer’s viewpoint is correct. Just therefore «the Humboldtian landscape thus never corresponds to
objects but is, rather, a way of knowing – an “impression” of Nature» [Humboldt’s compromise or, the forgotten geographies
of landscape: p. 10].
Turner M.G. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY: The Effect of Pattern
on Process Annu_ Rev_ Ecol. Syst_ 1989_ 20:171-97 –
"Landscape" commonly refers to the landforms
of a region in the aggregate (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1980) or to
the land surface and its associated habitats at scales of hectares to many
square kilometers. Most simply, a landscape can be considered a spatially
heterogeneous area.
In this article
Monica G. Turner refers to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1980: «landforms of a region in the aggregate (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1980) or to the land surface …». It is better to say: the aggregate of
landforms of some aria that forms its entirety image: isn’t divided or
disjoined - in one unit.
Landscape ecology in theory and practice: pattern and process / Monica
G. Turner, Robert H. Gardner, Robert V. O’Neill. © 2001 Springer-Verlag New
York, Inc. –
What, then, is a landscape? We suggest a
general definition that does not require an absolute scale: a landscape is an
area that is spatially heterogeneous in at least one factor of interest.
Although at the human scale we may observe “a kilometers-wide mosaic over which
local ecosystems recur” (Forman, 1995), it is important to recognize that
landscape ecology may deal with landscapes that extend over tens of meters
rather than kilometers, and a landscape may even be defined in an aquatic
system. In addition, we might observe a landscape represented by a gradient
across which ecosystems do not necessarily repeat or recur. (p.
7).
I start
from that landscape is not a plot (country, territory), it is an integral image
of a plot (country, territory), so landscape isn’t measured by area units. It
is important for the topology of terrains as a source for landscapes
appearance: the question is about nested topology. Therefore the Forman’s
viewpoint is not correct. The fact, that source of landscape is «an area that is spatially heterogeneous», is
recognized by most of authors. As to
scale of plots that can be landscape-raising, the range is very large; all
depends on extent of elementary subjects that form the day-surface structure
– from tens square centimetre to the whole planet. All depends from scale of
process that form given day-surface structure. For instance, the drip erosion
forms corresponding structure as shown in Figure 1. Even
circle of 10 cm diameter is ample for including of significant details and its
connections. Sometimes, in the presence of field observation experience, even a
small area is enough for forming the landscape of all-terrain.
Figure 1.
The day-surface structure forms by drip erosion.
In addition to
written I want to draw attention to the highly important article of author team in
complement: Konings A.G., Dekker S.C., Rietkerk M., Katul
G.G. - Drought sensitivity of patterned
vegetation determined by rainfall‐land surface feedbacks (Journal of Geophysical
Research, Vol. 116, G04008, 2011), in
which the model of interconnection between patterned vegetation and
precipitation is given (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Key
pathways of model influence of vegetation biomass on rainfall (R). Biomass
influences albedo (a), which influences the surface energy R n available for
latent (LE) and sensible (H) heating. In the “no radiative feedback”
simulations of section 4.2, this influence is artificially removed (red cross).
Biomass (P) also has a direct influence on the total surface latent heat flux
(equations (12) and (13)). In the “no ET feedback” simulations of section 4.2,
this influence is artificially removed (blue cross). The dashed line indicates
that rainfall also influences biomass. –
Some more instances
of process that leads to forming of pattern in vegetative cover is contained in
article of D.L.
DeAngelis «Self-Organizing Processes in Landscape Pattern and Resilience: A
Review // International Scholarly Research Network ISRN Ecology Volume
2012, Article ID 274510» (Figure 3) –
Figure 3. Feedbacks
between halophytic and glycophytic vegetations. The halophyte has a positive
effect on soil salinity, which has a negative effect on glycophyte growth. The
glycophyte is assumed to be a superior competitor for light.
As to the question
of nested topology that is interesting for geographies and
landscape-connoisseur I want to draw attention to the so-called «TopoText», for
instance: «TopoText:
Context-Preserving Semantic Exploration Across Multiple Spatial Scales» - http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~elm/projects/topotext/topotext.pdf. Then the structures of day-surface parts are texts and
landscapes are the total senses written within these parts.
Brown P. «Up, down, and across the land: landscape
terms, place names, and spatial language in Tzeltal» -
This highly
interesting article is devoted to representation of day-surface structure
peculiarities in the language of Mayan corn farmers. As author writes, «This
paper addresses the conceptualization of a people’s environment – natural and
manmade features of the landscape – by looking at how these are coded in their
language and expressed in language usage» (p. 151).
The
article suggests an idea that a landscape may be treated as the manner of collating of intricate current of sensor dates that come
to brain, as the manner of surroundings typification, classification, in the
first set - a day-surface structure. So it is the way to complex
suppression by dint of transforming continuity in discreteness. In such
sight we can consider a landscape as a face of some area.
Schama S., 1995: Landscape and Memory.
Harper Collins, London, UK.
Simon
Schama (1995) argues that landscapes exist in the mind: «Although we are accustomed to separate
nature and human perception into two realms, they are, in fact, indivisible.
Before it can ever be a repose for the senses, landscape is the work of the
mind. Its scenery is built up as much from strata of memory as from layers of
rock… Landscapes are culture before they are nature, constructs of the
imagination projected onto wood and water and rock».
I think
it is a correct understanding of the landscape matter. But we must take into
account the possibility of existence of hidden organization connected with the so-called
landscape-forming process, in which our mind is permeated. Such variant I call
an onto-landscape. No doubt that landscape phenomenon appearing
with agriculture becoming, as L. Simonsson wrote, «the
land as an expression of its people. In this perspective land does not have any
meaning without the consideration of the peoples’ history and identity» [Simonsson L. Applied Landscape Assessment
in a Holistic Perspective. A case study from Babati District, north-central
Tanzania, 2001: p. 10]. It is a very correct view on landscape
phenomena.
Macpherson H., Minca C.
Landscape, embodiment and visual impairment: an exploration of the limits of landscape knowledge,
2006
In
article the authors consider some important questions such as:
. Landscape as a ‘territorial unit’.
The idea of landscape as a territorial unit can be traced to the term’s use in Germanic
languages and older forms of English (Mikesell 1968; Olwig 2002). Recently it has
represented a common starting point for a range of crossdisciplinary approaches to
landscape (Fry 2001; Scott 2002). Gary Fry, a key figure within landscape studies,
argues that there has been an ‘emergence of landscape as a level of organisation in
countryside management’ and goes on to suggest ‘landscape ecology in its broadest
sense would appear to be the most promising candidate for the development of
interdisciplinary theory applicable to multifunctional landscapes’ (Fry 2001, 160163,
2 emphasis added).
I think we have the confusion
connected with mixing of two notions – «terrain» and «landscape». The «terrain» is
a measurable territorial unit, and «landscape» is its
image, that is not measurable.
.
Landscape as ‘a form of visualization’
The work of historical geographer David Lowenthal is considered to have been key in
preparing the way for approaches to landscape which begin to consider it as a form of
visualization and a way of structuring knowledge about space (Olwig 2003). Lowenthal,
initially in his work with Hugh Prince, analyzed the impact of class and national identity
on the creation of material landscapes (Lowenthal and Prince 1964). This work began
to show the socially constructed ways in which space is perceived and comprehended
as landscape. The idea that landscape is not a ‘thing’, quantifiable and real, but rather
a culturally mediated construction, has become popular across the social sciences and,
particularly, in human geography (where landscape made its first appearance as a
‘scientific’ concept in the mid Nineteenth century). The most prominent geographer to
adopt and develop this cultural perspective on landscape is geographer Denis
Cosgrove.
I think
such a viewpoint is correct. A landscape is not a «thing», we
don’t walk on landscape and can’t touch it, as well as we can’t map it – the border
of each landscape is the border of terrain that is bedding for it. A landscape
can be defined as an informational pool that expands in terrain image in our consciousness.
Unt L. Encounters in Landscapes: Stenography,
Landscape and Memory in Estonian Open-air Performances
Living in and looking at a landscape can
be regarded as acts of remembrance, where the landscape is not scenery, but a
stage of action. (p. 319). Depending on the scenographic strategies, the actual
landscape can be used as a stage to act on, or it can be reduced to scenery, a
backdrop to perform against. (p. 320).
A live body orients and responds to the
sensory world in the constant communication between itself and the landscape it
inhabits (Merleau-Ponty 1964). By placing the viewer in the landscape, it can
be regarded as the perceiver’s stage of action rather than scenery. (p.
321).
The
author bases on treatment that a landscape is a stage of action. It is a correct
treatment as well as reference on the M. Merleau-Ponty’s position because we realize
our action due to sensory orientation in
environment.
Peter Longatti, Thomas Dalang
The Meaning of “Landscape” – An Exegesis
of Swiss Government Texts
We first observe a
shift from the original ‘picture’ concept of landscape as a visual experience
and at the same time an emotional experience, landscape as home for people, to
the concept of landscape as a physical location where biological processes take
place.
Then there is a
shift back to the social and psychological aspects of the landscape focusing on
people’s needs and activities in the landscape so that the invisible aspects of
the landscape become the dominant features and the idea of the picture finally disappears. (p.
35).
I concentrate attention on the phrase: «original
‘picture’ concept of landscape as a visual experience and at the same time an
emotional experience, landscape as home for people» and want
to notice that «a physical location where biological
processes»
pertain to terrain. So, we have to do with confusion of notions. I add
that peoples realized its activities not in the landscapes but in the terrains.
Actors and orders: The shaping of Carsten
Paludan-Müller, maj 2008
In this
interesting article I want to single out the following points with what I
am in conformity: «Landscape is
a word of Dutch origin, and a phenomenon with many interpretations. It is a
constantly re-configured frame, and medium of human
aspiration and action.
There is always more to the landscape,
than meets the eye. Basically, our perceptions of and actions in the landscapes are shaped by who we are. And who we are is in many
ways shaped by our relationship to our physical environment
including the landscape. In other words, there is a dynamic interplay between formation of landscape-identities and formation of
human-identities» (p. 2/15).
Greider T., Garkovich L. Landscapes: The
social construction of nature and the environment.
«Why
does a real estate developer look across
an open field and see comfortable suburban ranch homes nested in quiet
cul-de-sacs, while a farmer envision endless rows of waving wheat and a hunter
sees a five-point buck cautiously grazing in preparation for the coming winter?
The open field is the same physical thing, but it carries multiple symbolic
meanings that emanate from the values by which people define themselves. The
real estate developer, the farmer, the hunter are definitions of who people
are, and the natural environment – the physical entity of the open field – is
transformed symbolically to reflect these self-definitions. These symbolic
meanings and definitions are sociocultural phenomena, not physical phenomena,
and they transform the open field into a symbolic landscape.
“Landscape” are the symbolic environment created by
human acts of conferring meaning to nature and the environment, of giving the
environment definition and form from a particular angle of vision and through a
special filter of values and beliefs. Every landscape is a symbolic
environment. These landscapes reflect our self-definitions that are grounded in
culture. » [Greider, Garkovich, 1994: 1].
It is a very
correct position!
Lowenthal D. Living With and Looking at
Landscape // Landscape Research, Vol. 32, No. 5, 637–659, 2007 -
Awareness of landscape involves active
participation, however motionless the beholder. Wind and weather, light and
shadow, clouds and sky, seasonal foliage, the disposition of birds, animals and
people make each glimpse a new scene, even when seen repeatedly from the same
spot. Moreover, landscapes change as we move through them: each step, each turn
of the head, engages new vistas. So much depends on our physical interaction
that no static scenic consensus can adequately reflect it. (p.
638).
It is the
vital dictum of one of the most authoritative author. But I must mark that we
don’t move through landscape, we move through terrain.
Sua´rez-Seoane S., Baudry J. Scale
dependence of spatial patterns and cartography on the detection of landscape
change: relationships with species’ perception // ECOGRAPHY 25: 499–511, 2002.
In this
interesting article I draw attention to some moments:
. Mapping landscapes is a basic task for
landscape ecologists. (p. 500).
A
landscape can’t be mapped, this can be made only with day-surface structure:
the map marks not landscapes but types of the day-surface.
. Defining terms
a) Landscape unit: an aggregation of areas
with similar land cover and a characteristic combination of topo-ecological
factors (see Baudry 1985, Forman and Godron 1986, Zonneveld 1989). It
constitutes a functional entity resulting from human activities. b) Typology of
landscape units: a classification system using a set number of landscape units
to describe a landscape. Four typologies were generated using fine or coarser
levels of detail (see Table 1). c) Analysis units or blocks: aggregations of
grid cells created to change the spatial resolution of an analysis. (p.
500).
A
landscape doesn’t contain (consist of) the units as it is integral image of
terrain: it is a mental construction.
. Fig. 1. Geographical location of the
study area. (p. 500).
It is an incorrect
dictum: it is necessary to write «territorial location».
National Geographic Society – Microsoft
Word –
A landscape is part of
the Earth’s surface that can be viewed at one time from one place. It consists of the geographic features that
mark, or are characteristic of a particular area.
I think
better to say so: A landscape is image of the terrain (country) as a part of the
Earth’s surface that can be viewed at one time from one place or forming by
perception during going/journey
through the terrain, this image is a pattern that is an informational pull. It
doesn’t consist of the geographic features that mark, or are characteristic of a
particular area, because it is an undivided, entire image of some terrain; it
is its pattern forming in the person’s consciousness.
What are landscapes?
‘Landscape’ is a concept which includes the physical
environment and people’s perception and appreciation of that environment. It is
not restricted to the purely visual, but may comprise and encompass the ways in
which individuals and communities perceive the natural and physical resources,
as through traditions, lore, and legends that express the significant and
memorable elements of a landscape.
‘Landscape’ is
a concept based on people’s perception and appreciation of environment within some
terrain of scale spectrum. It is not restricted to the purely visual,
but may comprise and encompass the ways in which individuals and communities
perceive the natural and physical resources, as through traditions, lore, and
legends that express the significant and memorable elements of a landscape.
Landscape means the natural and physical attributes
of land together with air and water which change over time and which is made
known by people’s evolving perceptions and associations [such as beliefs, uses,
values and relationships].
The base of landscape as an image of
certain part of daytime surface is the attributes of land together with air and water
which change over time and which is made known by people’s evolving perceptions
and associations [such as beliefs, uses, values and relationships].
... “landscape” also ... takes into account the overall
composition, spatial structure and aesthetic values of an area, together with
its meanings and associations for different segments of society.
... “landscape”
is the overall composition, spatial structure and aesthetic values of an area,
together with its meanings and associations for different segments of society,
it allows the landscape-forming process that causes such pattern of a given
part of the surface.
What is a landscape?
Ad by Atlassian –
A landscape is everything you experience outside a
building. It consists of plants, people, earthforms, sensory experiences, and
every other environmental feature around the world both human made and
naturally existing.
Such definition is not correct because a
landscape doesn’t «consists of plants, people, earthform,
sensory experiences, and every other environmental feature around the world
both human made and naturally existing» for plants, people, earthform,
sensory experiences, and every other environmental features are the context that is based for displaying of
landscape.
Landscape has a
large scope of definition. Mostly, it is named as an area comprises flora and
fauna.
But I as a
Landscape designer define the term of landscape as a place where different
features combined to create such a sublime, scenic and tranquil place.
From a small garden inside of the house to a large ones in city scale, all, are considered as a landscape.
From a small garden inside of the house to a large ones in city scale, all, are considered as a landscape.
Landscape is
like a canvas full of colorful ideas and drawings which allows anyone to come
in and become happier.
I begin from thereafter of that landscape
doesn’t «an
area comprises flora and fauna» -
they are the components of day-surface structure, and a landscape may not be a
place. And far not all landscapes are similar to «canvas full of colorful ideas and drawings
which allows anyone to come in and become happier».
A landscape is the visible features of
an area of land, its landforms and how they integrate with natural or man-made
features.
A landscape
includes the physical elements of geophysically defined landforms such as
(ice-capped) mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and
the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human
elements including different forms of land use, buildings and structures, and
transitory elements such as lighting and weather conditions.
A landscape doesn’t «include
the physical elements of geophysically defined landforms such as (ice-capped)
mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living
elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements
including different forms of land use, buildings and structures, and transitory
elements such as lighting and weather conditions», it is the wholeness of all
«features
of an area of land». For instance, «landforms such as (ice-capped) mountains» are integrated in «alpine landscape». But
I don’t think that weather conditions are included in such image.
Let us
understand it in simple words. For instance, suppose you live in a hilly area.
So, whenever you get up in the morning and go outside your house, what all
things can you see? Hills, trees, grass, houses, huts, fields, rivers, plants,
flowers, snow, road… and all such sort of things, isn’t it? All these things
are a part of a landscape. Hence, we can say that a landscape is whatever we
can see when we look across the land.
«Hills, trees, grass, houses, huts,
fields, rivers, plants, flowers, snow, road… and all such sort of things …» are not «a landscape
is whatever we can see when we look across the land», all this stuffs are details
of day-surface structure as the base for landscape appearance.
Definitions of
landscape invariably include an area of land containing a mosaic of patches or
landscape elements. The Landscape makes your home perfect with help of patio
design, fire pit installation, pond design, fencing, pathways, masonry work,
etc. Attractive gardens and fountains design keeps you in touch with nature.
The day-surface patches are parts of its structure
and, therefore, the bases for landscape appearance.
What Is Landscape?
By John R. Stilgoe –
Landscape,
John Stilgoe tells us, is a noun. From the old Frisian language (once spoken in
coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany), it meant shoveled land: landschop.
Sixteenth-century Englishmen misheard or mispronounced this as landskep,
which became landskip, then landscape, designating the surface of
the earth shaped for human habitation. In What Is Landscape? Stilgoe
maps the discovery of landscape by putting words to things, zeroing in on
landscape's essence but also leading sideways expeditions through such sources
as children's picture books, folklore, deeds, antique terminology, out-of-print
dictionaries, and conversations with locals. (“What is that?” “Well, it's not
really a slough, not really, it's a bayou...”) He offers a highly original,
cogent, compact, gracefully written narrative lexicon of landscape as word,
concept, and path to discoveries.
We see here absence of anything that points
out on geo-complex (Russian version) or ecosystem whether any similar.
What is a
Landscape?
Assigned Reading: McGarigal (Lecture notes) –
Definitions of
landscape invariably include an area of land containing a mosaic of patches or
landscape elements. (P. 3.2).
Definitions of landscape can't «include an area of land containing a mosaic of patches
or landscape elements» because mosaic, as
such as landscape, is an image of certain placed patches that are not the
elements of landscape, they are physiographical elements of terrain.
Forman and
Godron (1986) defined landscape as a heterogeneous land area composed of a
cluster of interacting ecosystems that is repeated in similar form throughout. (P. 3.2).
A land area may not be a landscape; it is
merely a material base for landscape as its image. Here the question of
ecosystem definition is essential: is it something tangible or model of
biocenosis (bio-community) on the system principle? I think it is the second
version.
Turner et al
(2002) define landscape as an area that is spatially heterogeneous in at least
one factor of interest. (P. 3.2).
Landscape isn’t an area= territory because a character of draft of content is
essential but not its area=territory, therefore it may be distinguished many
nested domains of different scales that characterized own arrangements of
contents. These arrangements just are bases for landscapes displaying.
The landscape
concept differs from the traditional ecosystem concept in focusing on groups of
ecosystems and the interactions among them – the focus is on spatial heterogeneity
and its impact on process. (P. 3.2).
Group of ecosystems are ecosystem of larger
scale till to the Biosphere as a whole!
Some variants of landscape definitions give in this
publication.
From a wildlife perspective (p. 3.3): a landscape is a heterogeneous distribution
of habitat (patches or gradients).
A landscape may not be «a
heterogeneous distribution of habitat» as is a total image of some part of
surface. Heterogeneous distribution of something belongs to such characteristic
as texture.
However,
landscapes generally occupy some spatial scale intermediate between an
organism's normal home range and its regional distribution. In-other-words,
because each organism scales the environment differently (i.e., a salamander
and a hawk view their environment on different scales), there is no absolute
size for a landscape. (p. 3.3).
A landscape doesn’t occupy anything and
animal’s perception is limited enough!
The section «The Landscape
Concept – Structure and Function» (p. 3.7) is very important. Reading: «All landscapes have a user-defined structure (pattern) that is
hypothesized to influence its function (process). This interaction between
spatial pattern and process defines the landscape concept» (p. 3.7).
This expression is similar to my opinion on
landscape as an organization of day-surface draft forming by landscape-forming
process, so it is a pattern that is landscaping (as a process) effect.
The expression «The composition of a landscape …» and «The configuration
of a landscape» (p. 3.7) –
I think the composition and the configuration
are characteristics of some surface as source for display of a landscape!
The expression «If the landscape
is not defined properly (in terms of its content, scale and context) relative
to the phenomenon under consideration and the stated objectives, then no amount
of quantitative assessment of landscape pattern-process will reveal meaningful
relationships» (p. 3.8) –
I think the landscape may not defined in
term «content», «scale» and «context», this aspects are the peculiarities of a
terrain as a source of landscape.
Defining
Landscape Terminology
Guidelines for
the Treatment of Cultural Landscape -
Character-defining feature - a prominent or distinctive aspect, quality, or
characteristic of a cultural landscape that contributes significantly to its
physical character. Land use patterns, vegetation, furnishings, decorative
details and materials may be such features.
Mentioned aspects, qualities – «land
use patterns, vegetation, furnishings, decorative details and materials» - are
the characteristics of surface that is based on landscape displaying and
landscape hasn’t physical character, it is a mental image.
Component landscape - A discrete portion of the landscape which can be further subdivided
into individual features. The landscape unit may contribute to the significance
of a National Register property, such as a farmstead in a rural historic
district. In some cases, the landscape unit may be individually eligible for
the National Register of Historic Places, such as a rose garden in a large
urban park.
A landscape doesn’t have a discrete portion
as it is an integral image of terrain!
Component landscape - A discrete portion of the landscape which can be further subdivided
into individual features. The landscape unit may contribute to the significance
of a National Register property, such as a farmstead in a rural historic
district. In some cases, the landscape unit may be individually eligible for
the National Register of Historic Places, such as a rose garden in a large
urban park.
«A
discrete portion of the landscape» doesn’t exist, a landscape doesn’t
decompose on the parts, it is a pattern!
Cultural landscape - a geographic area (including both cultural and natural resources and
the wildlife or domestic animals therein), associated with a historic event,
activity, or person or exhibiting other cultural or aesthetic values. There are
four general types of cultural landscapes, not mutually exclusive: historic
sites, historic designed landscapes, historic vernacular landscapes, and
ethnographic landscapes.
I have some questions and remarks as to this
point:
1. What is «geographic area»? I
think it is misunderstanding;
2. A landscape doesn’t «including
both cultural and natural resources and the wildlife or domestic animals
therein»
because it is an integral image of area=terrain, it doesn’t decompose on the parts.
Ethnographic landscape - a landscape containing a variety of natural and
cultural resources that associated people define as heritage resources.
Examples are contemporary settlements, sacred religious sites, and massive
geological structures. Small plant communities, animals, subsistence and
ceremonial grounds are often components.
A landscape doesn’t «contain
a variety of natural and cultural resources», it is integral image of milieu «that
is associated with people define as heritage».
Feature - The smallest element(s) of a landscape that contributes to the
significance and that can be the subject of a treatment intervention. Examples
include a woodlot, hedge, lawn, specimen plant, alley, house, meadow or open
field, fence, wall, earthwork, pond or pool, bollard, orchard, or agricultural
terrace.
All of counted are only the separate objects –
particulars of day-surface structure and not the «smallest element(s) of a landscape»!
Historic character - the sum of all visual aspects, features, materials, and spaces
associated with a cultural landscape’s history, i.e. the original configuration
together with losses and later changes. These qualities are often referred to
as character-defining.
Historic designed landscape - a landscape that was consciously designed or laid
out by a landscape architect, master gardener, architect, engineer, or
horticulturist according to design principles, or an amateur gardener working
in a recognized style or tradition. The landscape may be associated with a
significant person, trend, or event in landscape architecture; or illustrate an
important development in the theory and practice of landscape architecture.
Aesthetic values play a significant role in designed landscapes. Examples
include parks, campuses, and estates.
Any part of day-surface is «historic designed», so
any landscape must to contain the historical context.
Historic vernacular landscape - a landscape that evolved through use by the people
whose activities or occupancy shaped it. Through social or cultural attitudes
of an individual, a family, or a community, the landscape reflects the
physical, biological, and cultural character of everyday lives. Function plays
a significant role in vernacular landscapes. This can be a farm complex or a
district of historic farmsteads along a river valley. Examples include rural
historic districts and agricultural landscapes.
A landscape doesn`t evolve and not may be
occupied as it isn’t the tangible, all of it takes place with terrain as bases
of landscape displaying.
I invite you to participate in the discussion of the difficult issue of defining the notion of landscape.
Oleksa Kovalyov
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