Karen Foley Head of Landscape Architecture, UCD Landscape Perception Karen Foley Irish Landscape Institute/University College Dublin Landscape perception • Landscape – inherent dualities – Role of landscape profession in LCA and where that fits in within the overall process • Landscape aesthetics • LCA Methodology and landscape aesthetics – Scoping – Desk study – Field work – Description and classification – Identification of vulnerabilities • Landscape preference memories and associations – Biological and socially determined preference • The importance of stakeholders engagement Landscape Different meanings embedded in the term landscape • This dichotomy of “material” and “mental” aspects of landscape illustrate the duality inherent in the concept of landscape. • Landscape as synthesis of habitat and history (Aalen 1997) • Landscape as Cultural Heritage (see Faro Convention) Landscape Landscape at the Interface • Landscape studies are at the interface between the humanities and the natural sciences • Challenge in the combination of these and other knowledge cultures Palang, H., and Fry, G, 2003, Landscape interfaces Landscape Landscape at the heart of LCA http://landscapecharacter.org.uk/files/pdfs/LCA-Guidance.pdf Landscape icon from the countryside agency Landscape Landscape and the aesthetic • word „aesthesis‟ – a sensation and a perception – Contemporary meaning: perception by means of the senses. – Implicit in the use of the term aesthetic experience is the shift from physical to mental, that the aesthetic experience begins with physical stimulation of the senses, e.g. the physiological mechanisms of sight, and ends in moods, emotions and meanings. – (Collinson 1992). Landscape aesthetics LCA – the methodology Aesthetic experience begins with physical stimulation of the senses In terms of landscape this is primarily sight Landscape aesthetics The visual • Developing the language to describe our surrounding • Experience – Key source books – Simon Bell‟s „Elements of Visual Design in the Landscape‟ Table shows the structural/systematic way to analyse a landscape Landscape aesthetics The methodology – LCA • Mapping and the use of documentary analysis followed by field work Stages: Scoping Desk study Field Survey Description and classification www.landscapecharacter.org.uk/ Landscape and LCA [...]... material From desk survey use Landscape and LCA of maps to locate key surveying points Use of Field Survey forms Landscape and LCA Key components of a field survey form • • • • a written description of the character observed at particular points; an annotated sketch; a checklist of landscape elements and their significance; a checklist of aesthetic and perceptual factors; Landscape and LCA Field survey... description of the character observed at particular points or in certain areas; Landscape and LCA Use of an annotated sketch, (or photograph) (Use of short videos) Landscape and LCA Analysis inherent in sketching Landscape and LCA a checklist of visual elements and their significance; Landscape and LCA Landscape and LCA Field survey forms and gathering information on the perceptual a checklist of aesthetic... perceptual factors; Landscape and LCA Classification and description Image courtesy of BSM/Fingal CC Landscape and LCA (generic) landscape character types and (unique) landscape character areas Landscape Character Types (LCTs) – landscapes of the same type will have broadly similar patterns of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, land use, settlement and field pattern, e.g Drumlins/ Lakes Landscape Character... geographical areas in which landscape types occur They share characteristics with other areas of the same type but have their own particular identity, e.g The Burren Landscape and LCA Co Clare: landscape character types (generic) Co Clare landscape character areas (unique) http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications /Landscape/ Landscape_Clare/lca_intro .pdf Landscape preferences Preferences,... Research has shown some areas of more of less consistent preference, and areas of difference Landscape preferences Research into landscape preference • Background of research into landscape preference • Research findings – Biological preferences (shared among majority of the population, possibly based on evolution) – Cultural preferences (transmitted socially through the use of language and other media).. .Landscape and LCA The desk study • Working alongside the other professionals – Gathering the maps • Geology/geomorphology/ecology – Historic data – Use of photographs Landscape and LCA Tools to use – aerial photographs Landscape and LCA Photographs; aerial and oblique Drumlin images courtesy of Mitchell and Associates Landscape and LCA Field Survey: ground truthing and addition of new material... Laws) • The next layer of preference are the cultural landscape preferences Here differences in strength of preference are revealed between different social groups • Research has shown that some groups have different responses – age, – ethnicity – place of residence (urban/rural), – gender, – expertise (professional/ non professional), – newcomer to landscape or long term resident Landscape preferences... Theory Jay Appleton • Publication „The Experience of Landscape – Theory: that humans prefer landscapes that closely resemble the habitats where their ancestors were best able to survive, i.e • Savannah environment of Africa – Scattered tress and grassland • (coastal areas) Research Findings Landscape preferences • The landscapes that appeal most consist of – Water – Open clearings and meadows – Grazing... Preferences, memories and associations Landscape preferences Preferences, memories and associations • Memories and associations – desk study stage – Historical societies – HLC – Stakeholders • Landscape preference – what is liked and disliked in the appearance of landscape – Area of research since 1960s – of use to policy makers in understanding the potential impact of future land use change on public... refuge theory Landscape preferences Jay Appleton • Theory – our response to space is linked to basic need for protection – Humans - both hunter and hunted – Need to see and observe our environment while at the same time being protected by it Importance of views overlooking landscape – Landscape preferences Cultural landscape preference • The previous can be considered „universal‟ patterns of preference . Karen Foley Head of Landscape Architecture, UCD Landscape Perception Karen Foley Irish Landscape Institute/University College Dublin Landscape. Fry, G, 2003, Landscape interfaces Landscape Landscape at the heart of LCA http://landscapecharacter.org.uk/files/pdfs/LCA-Guidance .pdf Landscape icon