Landscape Architecture

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:Definition of space, a proposal

The terminology and the definition of landscape architecture have changed. Still in a move, one can place it under planning disciplines. Transforming and adapting to different fields and necessities, both human and environmental. It is also a learning discipline: operators have to deal with every possible issue involved in the planning process – including the unforeseeable – determined by the space one works with. Another field it can be list under is the construction department. It is a discipline where ideas become alive and physical, set up by an operator. Usually one means the outside space, referring to natural processes, when one talks about landscape architecture. An open space. Open towards the sky and open towards the land. In an vertical and horizontal way. One can therefore also speak of two main directions. It depends on the type of space one is in, one deals with and one is talking about.


2D space.

A flat space. Constructed by 2 vectors. Visible from above. It describes the space one uses, when one is drawing a ground plan. The tools are lines, geometric forms, areas, textures, structures, colors, text, numbers, measures, special characters and much more.

ICON ALASpace FMBB.jpg


3D space.

The space which opens up a room with 3 vectors. It is easy to define this architectural space in relation to a building, as the area which surrounds it.

This conception of landscape architecture, as a planning discipline of its own, emerged during the early 19th century. Whereas previously such tasks were solved by architects. For this reason, landscape architecture was always bound with architecture itself and its own understanding of space in correlation to buildings, as the space in-between.

ICON 3D ALA space FMBB.jpg

The perception of landscape architectural space. This space can be perceived as a space constructed around a perceiving subject. One could describe it as a stage. A horizontal space with it's special character. When one moves, a whole wall morphs into a concave area, with which one engages.

ICON perception of space FMBB.jpg

Space is always around us, regardless of being inside or outside a building. Inside or outside the landscape architectural space. To reflect, what architecture and landscape architecture brings together, one needs to understand, what environment means. For a landscape architect in practice it always points towards an ecological field, where one has to deal with issues of protection, for example. For an architect, environment can mean this as well, but, the thought can also bring us to a combination, where space is placed. The environment is the space, where everything happens and both situations of space, the landscape architectonic and the architectonic space, are part of. Here and to make it easier for the understanding and for the usage of the terminologies in everyday life, landscape architectural space can somehow stand as a synonym for the 'outside' and architectural space as a synonym for the 'inside'. To give a simple technical explanation of this: It means, because buildings are often wrapped in walls and a skeleton, it feels, that we are talking about an inside space. Landscape architecture refers to an outside space, underneath the open sky. Of course there are combinations possible. What for example is a covered courtyard or a green area with a glass roof? So there must be added another parameter which helps to define the terms.


The content of green.

The landscape architectonic space is recognisable by its content of green in every possible way and how this content is placed and spreads out within its placement, which does it mostly in a horizontal direction. For nowadays architecture understanding this may look like a very limited definition, because buildings can also contain 'green'. In this way, landscape architectonic space is difficult to locate. And for practical reasons one can rely on the kind of professions, which have to deal with it and therefore chose another category for telling what is what. But within this case it is also possible to talk about both. If the project itself includes more architectonic problems, it can be called architectural space. If it contains more landscape architectonic facts, one can tell about landscape architecture. The boundaries are shifting.


The quality of surface.

The dimension of soil in a negative vertical direction, towards the inner earth, is important for defining the kind of space. In both cases, one also needs to consider the type of surface, where the made and placed objects are. The material of the surface, the attributes of the soil. Landscape architecture is, as much as architecture, determined by the surface, where it should be. Both need a ground to be placed and to just be. This, without consideration of space architecture flying around in the universe. Landscape architecture can be often found and felt by it's direct contact to an organic underground and the direct contact the perceiver has, when he is engaging with the space, by touching. A possible way is analysing the kind of materials which were used and bring them into order, additional telling it's sources and decide, either architecture or landscape architecture based.


Height and depth.

Another main factor is the altitude. Landscape architectural space is often arranged in the horizontal dimension. Architecture can be noticed out of huge distances, because of its mostly dominant vertical dimensions.

ICON Altitude Importance of Height and Depth FMBB.jpg

ICON The directions of architectural and landscape architectural space FMBB.jpg


:Definition of tools, a proposal

Tools are essential. What can be a tool is a question of interpretation. In this case and referring to the pre-listed points tools are described through its orientation and using in space itself. A tool is a method to express ones imagination and ones aim, ones solutions and ones visions. Determined by that it is all a question of measures.


Measures.

All that space we can see, all the physical build space around us has its own measures. It is a question of perspective and the point of view. Measurements are given through the typical measuring unit of the country, where the creating process takes place.


Rules.

To set one's own rules and restrictions for the creation of space can be a tool as well. By asking questions: 'What is allowed? What do I not want?' (exclusion principle) the planner can go as far as he pleases. There are always basic circumstances which have to be taking into account. But while trying to find the optional solution on another layer, it can help to step forward quickly within this process. It is to sharpen the actors and operators own view and turn it into the form more precisely. And it helps to come to a conclusion and show the steps clearly: by always looking forward, but allowing to look backwards, within the same stage of work.


Vegetation.

It is the strongest and the most unpredictable tool the operator can use to create. This material is alive and changes while put into the created scenario. 'How much control can one have over nature?'


Materials.

Materials equals tools. The planner chooses what will shape the idea of the space he has in mind. 'Through which materials should the place be experienced? Through which face should the place become a stage?'


Change.

The amount of change and how important it is are questions of the perception of the participants in the process itself. There are always factors which effects change on the physical building itself, after the construction is finished.