Cultural Landscape Meanings And Design Implications

Cultural Landscape:Meanings and Design ImplicationsUMRAN 2009Department of Landscape ArchitectureKulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental DesignInternational Islamic University Malaysia25-26th March 2009Ismail SaidHead of DepartmentDepartment of Landscape ArchitectureFaculty of Built EnvironmentUniversiti Teknologi Malaysiab-ismail@utm.my1

Meanings of Cultural Landscape Any landscape bearing the impact of human activity, historic orpre-historic. It is a concept emerging from increasingrecognition that human beings are a part of nature. Distinct geographical areas representing the combined work ofnature and of Man (UNESCO World Heritage). Connections between human beings and the physicalenvironment. Interaction between humankind and its natural environment.2

Disciplines Studying Cultural Landscape Human geography and Sociology:Interaction and nurturing behavior Architecture and Landscape architecture:Buildings and green infrastructure Rural and urban planning:Settlement Agriculture:Cultivation of crops and settlement3

Attributes of Cultural Landscape CHARACTERISTICS– Simple: e.g. daily experience of a child in a garden– Complex: e.g. gradual changes of community behaviors thatshaped people’s functioning COMPONENTS– Tangible: Physical elements including plants, animals, topographyand architectural structures.– Intangible: Attributes of the environment as well as socialinteractions and transactions. SCALES OF ECOTOPE– Macro : e.g. a farming community– Micro: e.g. a den for a child to play4

Complex and Macro ScaleThe works of man express themselves in the cultural landscape.Cultural landscapes, associated with modification of theenvironment, appear with agro-ecosystems, and are the periodwhen human influences are seen to override environmental ones.5

Simple and Micro ScaleCultural landscape is one physically transformed by human action.Man expressing his place in nature as a distinct agent ofmodification.6

Simple and Micro ScaleSIMPLE: Dominate by greenery and a smallcommunityMACRO SCALE: Large tract of rural landscapeTANGIBLE: Can be touch and experienced throughINTANGIBLE: Bonding to the landscape as place to resideand sustainCultural landscape is one physically transformed by human action.It begins when man practiced agriculture, some 8000 to 10000 years ago.7

Complex and Macro ScaleCOMPLEXMACRO SCALETANGIBLEINTANGIBLE::::Intricate forms involving time and large communityLarge area of rural landscapeCan be touch and experienced throughRelate to the Buddhism valuesCultural landscape is one physically transformed by human action.8

Diversity of Cultural LandscapeBIOLOGICALECOLOGICALCULTURAL: Life is sustained by physical and climatic elements: Human dependence on plant and animals: Identity of place formulated by activities and behaviors ofpeopleAn array of elements and spaces experiential choices for people, resulting inregular contact with various open spaces.9

Coherence of Cultural Landscape Readability of its environments Legibility of places and good connectivity10

Summary of RelationshipsSocial interactionEmotional feelings to placeCulturalLandscapePhysical interaction with naturalresources lead to economicgainTechnology that leads toeconomic gain andmodification of naturalresources11

Children’s Cultural LandscapeShelter andEconomy BenefitsPhysical SpaceSocial SpaceCommunityIntegrationHomeas CulturalLandscapeInner SpaceEmotional Bonds12

Cultural Landscape as Inner Space Place dependence: connections based specifically on activities thattake place in a setting, reflecting the importance of a place inproviding conditions that support an intended use (Schreyer et al.1981). Place identity: the mixture of feelings about specific physicalsettings (Proshansky et al.1983) including how these settingsprovide meaning and purpose to life (Giuliani & Feldman, 1993). Place attachment: Emotional bond people have with place (Altman& Low, 1992) Place rootedness: bonding situation wherein people become sobonded to a specific place that they long for very few or no other.13

Cultural Landscape as Inner SpaceThe inner space is emotional feelings to a place that bond thechildren to the environment.14

Implication: Designing KindergartenThe kindergarten should provide aninteractive, and explorative learningenvironment.15

Fragmentation Fragmentation disrupts the cultural identity of a landscape. Fragmented landscapes are patches that separated by noncoherence elements.16

Implication: landscape resource assessmentof rural landscapeGOAL To achieve rural amenities in Jasin District byemphasizing the rural and natural resources.OBJECTIVES To support the development of sustainablecommunity by optimizing the contribution ofnatural resources. To balance the nature and man by applyingthe concept of stewardship. To highlight the culture by identifying andcreating the uniqueness of character andimage of Jasin District. To enrich the existing life quality of Jasinpeople by improving their ‘bond’ to the place.17

Implication to planning and design18

Agricultural landscapeThe works of man express themselves in the cultural landscape.Cultural landscapes give us a sense of place.19

Rural LandscapesCultural landscapes, associated with modification of theenvironment, appear with agro-ecosystems, when humaninfluences are seen to override environmental ones.Cultural identity is strongly associated with the ways in whichpeople interact with their landscapes.20

Historical LandscapesPlace identity:Self-identity and group identity are intimately connected withthe events and history that are associated with the tangibleenvironment.21

Conclusion Cultural landscapes often reflect specific techniques of sustainable land-use.Cultural landscapes are :– designed and created intentionally by man– evolved organically– experiential milieuThe concept of sustainable development is widely interpretedas a need to achieve sustainability concurrently within environmental,economic and social spheres (United Nations, 2002).22

Department of Landscape Architecture Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design International Islamic University Malaysia 25-26th March 2009 . Meanings of Cultural Landscape Any landscape bearing the impact of human activity, historic or pre-historic. It is a concept emerging from increasing