Recognition of the Components of the Urban Landscape Visual System Elements and Values

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Art, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Faculty of Art, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Urban landscape, as the consequence of the human perception of diverse dimensions of the city, the physical form, action, and meaning, is an objective-subjective phenomenon. Different human senses, including sight, get information about the urban scene as a perceived reality. “Seeing” is a large aspect of how humans get environmental information as part of their perceptual process. Everything seen in space forms the visual system of the urban landscape which makes sense when it is combined with information received through other senses and interplay with the subjective aspect (one’s understanding based on experiences, memories, conditions, and personal-social characteristics), and the urban landscape. Many studies on the visual system of the urban landscape have focused on the “physical form,” its characteristics, and the way its components are organized, rather than the “activity”, which is part of the urban environment as experienced by humans. As a result, the function of activity in forming the visual system of the urban landscape should be addressed. The present study aims to understand the notion of a visual system in the urban landscape by describing its parts and the types of their correlations, which is accomplished through studying the theoretical relationship between the idea of the urban landscape and its components, as well as explaining perception by highlighting the information obtained through the sense of sight. The data of this descriptive and interpretive study were analyzed using documentary and bibliographic analysis and then were categorized and interpreted using logical reasoning. Findings demonstrate that the components of the urban landscape visual system can be explained in terms of visual elements (such as physical form and activity) and visual values (elements and their correlations quality, including the nine qualities of naturalness, sociability, readability, vitality, and dynamism, beauty, coherence and continuity, sense of identity, complexity, diversity, and contextualism) which are conducted through the research. 
 

Keywords

References

Aminzadeh, B. (2016). Values in urban Landscape Design. Tehran: University of Tehran.
Ansari, M., Pourjafar, M., Sadeghi, A. & Haghighatbin, M. (1388). Recognition of Components of the Visual System in Neighborhood of Deteriorated Urban Fabric (Case Study: Abbasi District, Tehran). Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning, (2), 71-91. 
Antrop, M. (2005). Why Landscapes of the Past are Important for the Future. Landscape and Urban Planning, 70(1-2), 21-34.
Ashrafi, N. (2018). Explaining The Epistemological Foundations of Architecture and Urban Planning with System Approach. Hoviatshahr, 12(33), 89-98.
Bahrayni, S., Ali Ghaleh Babakhani, M. & Sameh, R. (2015). Clarifying the Nature of the “Urban Quality of Life”: An Approach in the Urban Design Theories. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, (13), 151-167.
Bell, S. (2001). Landscape Pattern, Perception and Visualisation in the Visual Management Forests. Landscape and Urban Planning, (54), 201-211.
Bell, S. (2015). Elements of Visual Design in the Landscape. Tehran: Khak.[in Persian].
Cassatella, C. (2011). Landscape Indicators: Assessing and Monitoring Landscape Quality. London: Springer.
Chapman, D. (2014). Creating Neighbourhoods and Places in the Built Environment (F. Tabibian, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].
COE (Council of Europe). (2008). Guidelines for the implementation of the European landscape convention. Achievable: https://rm.coe.int/16802f80c9.
Cullen, G. (2013). The Concise Townscape. Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].
Eiter, S. (2010). Landscape as an Area Perceived through Activity: Implications for Diversity Management and Conservation. Landscape Research, 35(3), 339-359.
Fairclough, G., Sarlöv Herlin, I., & Swanwick, C. (2018). Routledge Handbook of Landscape Character Assessment. London: Routledge.
Förster, F., Großmann, R., Iwe, K. & Kinkel, H. (2012). What is Landscape? Towards a Common Concept within an Interdisciplinary Research Environment. eTopoi, (3), 169-179. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from http://journal.topoi.org
Gehl, J. (2017). Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Tehran: Jahad Daneshgahi. [in Persian].
Gerber, J. D., & Hess, G. (2017). From landscape resources to landscape commons: Focussing on the nonutility values of landscape. International Journal of the Commons, 11(2), 708-732.
Ghalambor Dezfuly, M., & Naghizadeh, M. (2014). Urban Design in the Context of Social Interaction Enhancement. Hoviatshahr, 8(17), 15-24.
Golkar, K. (2008). Conceptual Evolution of Urban Visual Environment; From Cosmetic Approach Through to Sustainable Approach. Environmental Sciences, 5(4). 95-114
Heffernan, E. E., Heffernan, T. W. & Pan, W. (2014). The relationship between the quality of active frontages and public The relationship between the quality of active frontages and public. Faculty of Engineering and Information, 1-31. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://ro.uow.edu.au/eispapers/6132
Heidari, A., Motalebi, G. & Nekoeimehr, F. (2014). Finding Relationship between Sense of Place and Place Attachment in Student Dormitory. HONAR-HA-YE-ZIBA, 19(1), 15-22.
Hemmati, M. & Saboonchi, (2021). Perceiver, Perceived, Perceptual Product (Evaluating Experts’ Interpretations of the Components of ‘Landscape’ Definition). MANZAR, 13(56), 14-29.
Jacobs, J. (2013). The Death and Life of Great American Cities (H. P. Aflatouni, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].
Kavoshnia, H., Bandarabad, A. & Modiri, A. (2017). Components and indicators of place formation to urban areas from the perspective of critical theory. Urban Management, 49, 151-170.
Kaymaz, I. (2012). Landscape Perception. Ankara: InTech.
Lang, J. (2007). Creating Architecture Theory (A. Einifar, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].
Lothian, A. (2000). Landscape quality assessment of South Australia (Unpublished Ph..D thesis). University of Adelaide, Adelaide. Available from: http://thesis.library.adelaide. edu.au/public/adt-SUA20060615.142413/Mehta, V. (2014). Evaluating Public Space. Urban Design, 19(1), 53-88.
Lynch, K. (1997). A Theory of Good City Form (S. Bahraini, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].
Mahmoudi, M. (2002). The effect of inner-city highways on changing the urban landscape of Tehran. HONAR-HA-YE-ZIBA, (12). 59-65.
Majidi, M., Mansouri, S., Sabernejad, J., & Bartai, N. (2020). The Role of Landscape Approach in Improving Satisfaction with the Urban Environment. Bagh-e-Nazar, 16(76), 45-56.
Mansouri, S. (2004). An introduction to Landscape architecture identification. Bagh-e-Nazar, 1(2), 70-78.
Mansouri, S. (2010). What is Urban Landscape?, Manzar (9), 30-33.
Mansouri, S. & Shafia, S. (2019). Landscape Tourism. Tehran: Mahkameh.
Mansouri, T., & Jahanbakhsh, H. (2013). Exploring how to improve the urban landscape through the body and revive cultural values-Historic City. Physical Development Planning, 1(3), 89-102.
Mehta, V. (2014). Evaluating Public Space. Journal of Urban Design, 19(1), 53-88. 
Memlük, M. (2012). Urban Landscape Design. Landscape Planning.
Mokhtari, M. & Nazari, J. (2010). The Sociological Quality of Life. Tehran: Jam’e-Shenasan.
Montgomery, J. (1998). Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and Urban Design. Urban Design, 3(1), 93-116.
Motloch, J. (2015). Introduction to landscape design. Tehran: Sazman-e Bostan-ha va Faza-ye sabz-e Shahr-e Tehran. [in Persian].
Nasar, J. (1). The Evaluative Image of the City. The American Planning Association, 56(1). 41-53.
Nijhuis, S. (2011). Visual research in landscape architecture (Vol. 2). Amsterdam: TU Delft.
Nishimura, K. (2019). The Aesthetic Appreciation of Landscape. In A. Verissimo Serrao & M. Reker (Ed.), Philosophy of Landscape: Think, Walk, Act. Lisbon: Center fo philosophy.
Ode Sang, A., Tveit, M. & Fry, G. (2008). Capturing Landscape Visual Character Using Indicators: Touching Base with Landscape Aesthetic Theory. Landscape Research, 33(1), 89-117.
Pakzad, J. (2006). The image of the city; according to Kevin Lynch. Abadi, (53), 20-25.
Parsi, H. (2002). Understanding the content of urban space. HONAR-HA-YE-ZIBA, (11), 41-49.
Porteous, D. J. (2012). Environmental Aesthetics (L. Aghadadashi, Trans.). Tehran: Kalhor. [in Persian].
Rapoport, A. (2013). The Meaning of the Built Environment: A Nonverbal Communication. Tehran: Tehran Municipality Information and Communication Technology Organization.
Relph, E. (1976). Place and Placelessness. London: Pion.
Salehinia, M. & Niroomand, M. (2018). Explaining the role of sensory landscape components based on the senses in the quality of environmental sensory perception of the passage of Gozar-e-Arg-e-Jadid Tabriz. Shahr-e Irani Eslami, 8(31), 19-31.
Seyedkalal, S. & Pourdeihimi, S. (2012). Landscape Space: Integration of Culture and Nature. Housing and Rural Environment, (138), 17-28.
Shahinrad, M., Rafieian, M. & Pourjafar, M. (2015). Assessing Women’s Visual Preferences towards Tehran Urban Spaces. Advances in Cognitive Sciences, 17(1), 10-24.
Shakibi, N. (2011). Improving the visual and scenic qualities in the historical contexts of the city (Unpublished Ph.D Thesis). Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Tudor, C. (2014). An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment. London: Natural England.
Vahdat, S., Sajjadzadeh, H. & Karimi Moshaver, M. (2015). Conceptualizing the factors affecting streetscape to promote the legibility of urban spaces. Urban Studies, (15), 17-35.
Watmann, F. M., Frick, J., Kienast, F., & Hunziker, M. (2021). Factors influencing visual landscape quality perceived by the public. Results from a national survey. Landscape and Urban Planning, (208), 1-10.
Zekavat, K. (2006). Strategic Framework for Urban Visual Management. Abadi, 16(53), 26-37.
MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape
Volume 15, Issue 62
April 2023
Pages 72-85

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics