LED Online Seminar 2017 - Working Group 6

--> Back to working group overview

Dear working group members. This is your group page and you will be completing the template gradually as we move through the seminar. Good luck and enjoy your collaboration!

Back to the Top

Assignment 1 - Reading and Synthesizing Core Terminology

You can read more details about this assignment here
Readings are accessible via the resources page

Step 1: Your Landscape Democracy Manifestoes

Ahmed's manifesto
Fardokht's manifesto 1
Fardokht's manifesto 2
Fardokht's manifesto 3
Henrik's manifesto 1
Henrik's manifesto 2
Vittoria's manifesto
Vedran's manifesto 1
Vedran's manifesto 2

Step 2: Define your readings

Please add your readings selection for the terminology exercise before April 12:

A: Landscape and Democracy - Mapping the Terrain

Antrop, Marc; Kühne, Olaf (2015) : Concepts of Landscape (Vittoria)

Landscape Concepts:

Bruns/Bartolomei, 2016 'Concepts of Landscape' (Fardokht)

B: Concepts of Participation

Arnstein, Sherry R.(1969): A Ladder of Citizen Participation, JAIP, Vol. 35, No. 4 (Vedran Vuković)
Furco, Andrew (1996): Service-learning: A balanced approach to experiential education.(Ahmed Kamal)

C: Community and Identity

Welk Von Mossner, Alexa (2014): Cinematic Landscapes, In: Topos, No. 88, 2014.(Ahmed Kamal)

D: Designing

Hester, Randolph: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Sustainable Happiness (Vittoria)
Hester, Randolph: Democratic Drawing - Techniques for Participatory Design.(Ahmed Kamal)

E: Communicating a Vision

'Reading the Landscape' by Simon Bell, EMU Tartu (Vedran Vuković)

Steps 3 and 4: Concepts Selection and definition

Each group member selects three relevant concepts derived from his/her readings and synthesize them/publish them on the wiki by April 30, 2017
Group members reflect within their groups and define their chosen concepts into a shared definition to be posted on the wiki by May 10, 2017.
Other group members will be able to comment on the definitions until May 20, 2017

Concepts and definitions

Fardokht Hadjisalimi:[1]

Concept 1: Concepts of human-centered landscape
- People’s mental landscape constructs relate to (a) General knowledge, (b) Special knowledge. Since perception is culturally contextualized, landscape is a “cultural phenomenon: (a) Sensual responses to landscape, (b) The way people attach meaning and value to it (Bruns, Bartolomei, 2016). (A theoretical model is attached in the linked file)

Concept 2: Areas that people perceive as landscape
- The landscape is people’s perception of their surroundings, a kind of nostalgia that can be detected. Our perceptions are socially and culturally contextualized, including memory. Landscape’s meanings can be interpreted by our minds and it can be perceived and appreciated differently by insiders and outsiders (Bruns, Bartolomei, 2016).

Concept 3: Value people give to in areas of their surroundings
- According to constructive theory, we have four layers model about what people give value to in their surroundings (Bruns, Bartolomei, 2016):

1.Physical features and processes of nature and human made artifacts 2.Things that people take note of in areas of surrounding 3.Values that are shared among members of groups, learn from so called “significant others” 4.Individual landscape experience, values and emotions (A brief model and examples are attached in the shared link)

Vittoria Maria Di Giannatale:

Concept 1: The pursuit of sustainability: the needed metamorphosis of cities.

Nowadays, there is this vicious circle where intrinsic nonsustainable habits lead to nonsustainable environments, which reinforce nonsustainable habits and so on. The dissociation modern man has from “nature” is basically caused by the accomplishment of “freedom” through technology. Being now sustainability an imperative, designers must then re-educate people to behaviours that go side by side with landscape and sustainability. The wide variety of factors that can lead to the metamorphosis of cities into sustainable ones, in fact, refers not only to the space itself but also and especially to the communities that live it. Transformation of behaviours and space goes hand in hand.(Hester, Randolph: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Sustainable Happiness)

Concept 2: How to accomplish the metamorphosis of cities: the community.

Communities must feel involved and connected, physically and socially. This can be helped by the creation of places where people can share experiences. For example, good resources could be sacred places and educative environments. That’s because you protect what you know and care about. The pursuit of sustainability must then involve the partecipation of the community in the decision making process, which is best to maintain on a regional or neighborhood layer. In the end, citizens must be inspired to move from short-term, selfish interests towards a wider long-term public good. Here the designer must help this transition, because the process can be slow and shocking at first impression. (Hester, Randolph: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Sustainable Happiness)

Concept 3: How to accomplish the metamorphosis of cities: the space and the importance of resilience.

In the sustainable refurbishment process, factors that interest more the space itself are for example the importance of physical connections, especially between natural and built environment, because a connection promotes meeting. Then, the characterisation of an area, which is best to develop without trying to innerly change it and lose in this way its identity. Last but not the least, the fundamental core is the importance of resilience. The city must be resilient in order to be sustainable, in relation with its limits and biodiversity. The land itself tells how to build more resiliently. A sustainable city must be characterized by diversity, adaptibility, must have a limited extent, for a best functioning, and work on its apparent weaknesses to make them virtues (ex. recycling). (Hester, Randolph: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Sustainable Happiness)

Vedran Vuković:

Concept 1: Citizen participation
- Citizen participation is a way of dividing power in order for the people/citizens to get a say in the political and economical decision making, as well as other matters of high importance to them. Citizen participation and decisions being made by the people is a base for a functioning democratic society.
- Arnstein, Sherry R.(1969): A Ladder of Citizen Participation, JAIP, Vol. 35, No. 4

Concept 2: Participation and nonparticipation
- Aldo citizens seemingly may be participating in a decision making process that essentially might not be the case. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate between the real citizen participation where people hold the power and the formal participation simply performed to satisfy the requirements of an existing participation process in a democratic society, as well as other stages from nonparticipatory approach to substantial citizen power.
- Arnstein, Sherry R.(1969): A Ladder of Citizen Participation, JAIP, Vol. 35, No. 4

Concept 3: Examining the landscape
- Reading the landscape and taking under consideration all of the aspects of a landscape character is essential for proper understanding of the landscape and landscape management. Landscape cannot be described only by examining its geographical elements, but also by realizing its visual and experiential characteristics which varies from one individual person to another, and their perception of the landscape.
- 'Reading the Landscape' by Simon Bell, EMU Tartu

AHMED KAMAL:

Concept 1: democratic drawing.
- “Drawing” is used to include the representation of the landscape by designers and community members through a broad range of media from sketching, painting and collage to modeling by hand or machine. also it used to visualize precisely places being designed. And understanding a place, communicating the detailed dimensions or essence of a space. By drawing the lines, designers imagine good space. they try to draw meaningful lines so that the space can be precious for people. This is why we need citizen participation. It is only through this process that lines have meaning and begin to live which gives meaning to people. (Hester, Randolph: Democratic Drawing)

Concept 2: The serving learning.
- The service learning is educational programs for students whose have international goals to learn and develop through active participation by extending student learning beyond the class room and into the community through international internships, volunteerism programs, community services and field education programs. (Furco, Andrew (1996): Service-learning)
Concept 3: cinematic the landscapes.

The nature and the landscape playing an important role in the movies especially fiction films.It can tell us a lot of stories about the environment, climate change and the other environmental issues.which help people to ask more questions about the their nature, future, thinking about their world and how can they improve it which make them more active and understanding the importance of the landscape. (Welk Von Mossner, Alexa (2014): Cinematic Landscapes)

Step 5: Reflection

Landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and human factors. It is people’s perception of their surroundings, a kind of nostalgia that can be detected. Our perceptions are socially and culturally contextualized, including memories. The people gives a value to their surrounding by telling stories about the place, sharing with their family and friends.

The nature playing an important in our life and to gives value to it for example using the cinema and fiction movies to telling us a lot of stories about the environment, climate change and the other environmental issues. Which help people to ask more questions about the their nature, future, thinking about their world and how can they improve it. Communities must feel involved and connected, physically and socially. This can be helped by the creation of places where people can share experiences. For example, good resources could be sacred places and educative environments. The concept of real participation of the people in creating their environment is playing an important role in designing their environment. Citizen participation is a way of dividing power in order for the people/citizens to get a say in the political and economical decision making. Citizen participation and decisions being made by the people is a base for a functioning democratic society. The designers playing an important role in helping people understanding their surrounding for example by drawing through a broad range of media from sketching, painting and collage to modeling by hand or machine. also it used to visualize precisely places being designed. Finally we agree that landscape democracy is an important subject in the process of designing so it is important to help the community member, students, designers whose have international goals to learn and develop through active participation by extending learning beyond the class rooms and into the community through international internships, volunteerism programs, community services and field education programs.

Step 6: Revised manifestoes

please look again at your initial manifestoes and update them with any new aspects/prespectives you have taken up during this seminar

Fardokht-Hadjisalimi-updated manifesto-1
Fardokht-Hadjisalimi-updated manifesto-2
Fardokht-Hadjisalimi-updated manifesto-3
Ahmed-Kamal-updated manifesto.
Vittoria Di Giannatale's updated manifesto

Assignment 2 - Your Landscape Symbols

You can read more details about this assignment here

Fardokht Hadjisalimi

The purpose of this designing was to achieve a symbol that not only has a special visuality, but also contains the historical, cultural and artistic backgrounds of Iran and in one word, to be the symbol of capital of Iran.
Lalezar street is one of the oldest streets in Tehran, Iran and a symbol of modernism and artistic dimension of those days. Lots of cinemas, theaters, cabarets, restaurants and etc were placed in this street. It is remembered as an echo. Even for the new generation it is a nostalgia.
The National Garden with a historical and governmental concept is located in Tehran, Iran. In the past, because of the military shooting range during the Qajar period, it was called as the Parade Square. Currently important governmental offices and museums are built in this area and lots of people go there to walk and visit the place.
Symbol yourname photovoice4

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location
Symbol yourname photovoice5

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location

Ahmed Kamal

The Hohenneuffen is situated on a large Jurassic rock on the edge of the Swabian Alb at an elevation of 743 m in a strategically advantageous location on the slopes of the mountain range in baden wuttemburg,Germany
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum or Museum of Cairo.It is a home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities.Egypt.
Al-Azhar Park is a public park located in Cairo. Among several honors,this park is listed as one of the world's sixty great public spaces.Egypt
Symbol yourname photovoice4

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location
Symbol yourname photovoice5

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location

Vedran Vuković

Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. A recognizable landmark in the city, built in a modern architectural style based on organic forms, and serving as a monument to one of the most influential industrial giants in Germany.
Old St. Laurentius church in town of Nurtingen. Located in the old town core, once was presumably the heart of the town and with its surrounding square one of the main meeting points for the town residents. Today it is primarily a symbol of an era long gone and a tourist attraction.
An intersection of four roads in the middle of an agricultural area in Germany, leading to Roßdorf, Raidwangen, Großbettlingen and Nurtingen. A symbol of connectivity between the people of that area.
Symbol yourname photovoice4

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location
Symbol yourname photovoice5

add a caption (one paragraph max) description of the symbolism, interpretation, as well as geo-location

Vittoria Maria Di Giannatale

In this picture you can see the Gran Sasso mountain, right from the window of my house in my hometown Villa Vomano, Abruzzo. This is my example of a strong, powerfull natural landscape symbol, which dominates and characterizes our everyday view. [42°37'04.7"N 13°46'34.6"E]
In this picture I show how we can influence everyday landscape with our own signs and symbols. This graffiti is located in Rimini, which is a town very close by the town where I study in, Cesena. It shows the symbols of Rimini and the park where it is located, a rooster and a peacock. [44°03'50.6"N 12°33'46.0"E]
This picture is unfortunately a bit blurry, but here I have photographed la Rocca Malatestiana, in the city where I study. This is my historical symbol, which belongs to the landscape of my everyday life. It dominates Cesena from above, and it's not only a symbol but also a place where people gather to spend free time. [44°08'10.7"N 12°14'23.7"E]
This is a typical landscape along the costa dei trabocchi. Costa means seashore and a trabocco is an ancient fishing “machine”. Along the shore some of these trabocchi were turned into restaurants, while some are considered as monuments. Trabocchi are an active presence of the landscape, they characterize it, shape it and create gathering and tourism. [42°17'46.6"N 14°27'58.4"E]
Rocca Calascio is characterized by the presence of a medieval castle, from which you can have one of the most striking views of the region of Abruzzo. This is an interesting example of artificial elements melting and coexisting perfectly with natural ones. Nature is dominated by the building but in a balanced way and without being obscured. [42°19'44.0"N 13°41'19.9"E]
This building is considered as an example of not democratic landscape. In an area of small houses and green areas it arises breaking every balance. Next to it you can see an historical house (it is a mill that the municipality is going to renovate) which is totally dominated by it. [44°08'28.7"N 12°14'26.4"E]

Assignment 3 - Role Play on Landscape Democracy "movers and shakers"

Samuel Mockbee (The rural studio)- Ahmed Kamal

here

Assignment 4 - Your Landscape Democracy Challenge

You can read more details about this assignment here
Each group member will specify a landscape democracy challenge in his/her environment

Vittoria Maria Di Giannatale

The lost pivot
caption: What/Where/Why
caption: The history
caption: The issue/conflict
caption: The actors?

Your references:

www.cesenatoday.it
www.ilrestodelcarlino.it
www.romagnanoi.it
https://cesenaunderpaper.wordpress.com
www.romagnaposa.it
www.comune.cesena.fc.it
Citizens of Cesena

ahmed kamal

El tahrir square between past and now
caption: why did you select this case? Tahrir (liberation) Square is one of Cairo's most important squares. Originally part of the Nile river bed, the site was firstly urbanized in the 19th century and after that The square became a symbol for the ongoing Egyptian democracy demonstrations moreover it consider as a good place for people to talk about politics issue ,thinking about future and socialize . all were gathered under the same slogan of seeking a better life, which guarantees "freedom, respect and social justice" they all called "the square spirit", this is true Egyptians characteristics. British Prime Minister David Cameron, Catherine Ashton, , Hillary Clintons and others visited el Tahrir square .
caption: what is the issue/conflict.? Billboards above the buildings surrounding the square, where it's the most expensive spot in Cairo. But the problem here is that these advertisements became more dominant then the buildings where the buildings are one of the most obvious features around the square because of their unique Architecture. So do el Tahrir's Users perceive the building or the billboard?
caption: what is the issue/conflict (2).? it's beginning to be a pass by space, nobody's doing anything in the square itself, everybody is coming to downtown they are all passing by el Tahrir square but it's not really because they want to come here… it doesn't belong to anyone.
caption: who are the actors?

Your references:

www.isocarp.net
www.cairomsc.blogspot.de
www.bbc.com

Vedran Vuković

Savica, there and back again
caption: The location of the challenge is set in my hometown, the city of Zagreb, in Croatia. The problem is a reoccuring effort in the last five years to change a green area/park into something that would be against the will of the population livin in that area, without consulting or informing them first.
caption: Presentation of the current state of the park and the first case of an effort to make a drastic change there, in the year 2013, by building a vast church in the park.
caption: The second case of an effort to carry out an interventin in the park, in the current year of 2017, where a sports park is planned to be integrated into the current park. Again the intervention is being performed without any kind of real public participation or even informing the public.
caption: The main actors involved in the situation.

Your references:

Fardokht Hadjisalimi

Navab Project, Tehran, Iran
Caption: The Resoan of Selecting this Project
Caption: Main Issues> Financial
Caption: Main Issues> Social-Cultural
Caption: The Actors

Your references:

http://irandoostan.com/iran-transport-information/
http://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/int_j_environ_res_2007_1_2_114.pdf
Bahrainy, Aminzadeh, 2006, Avaluation of Navab Regeneration Project in Central Tehran, Iran

Assignment 5 - Your Democratic Change Process

You can read more details about this assignment here
After documenting and reflecting on your challenges you will continue jointly with one of these challenges and design a democratic change process

Your Democratic Change Process

Add the title of your project
a power map identifying who is affected by the challenge and who is influencing it
Look at the various methods and tools available and think how they can be applied creatively. Think about the needs of different stakeholder groups - you may need a methodical mix to address them all. Illustrate graphically how these methods/tools might be applied in a short, medium and long-term perspective. A scenario illustrating how these tools can be applied within a short, medium and long term perspective involving the groups you want to address, this should include a process timeline

Reflection

The theoretical frame of the online seminar and of our readings gave us the foundations to face the chosen democratic challenge. In fact in our change process we include surveys to citizens, public meetings with them, information processes to involve them even more, and so on. A democracy attitude was held since the group discussion and then invested our challenge, where we found as leading aspects re-educating people about landscape and sustainability and involving in the planning process citizens of every age and social extration, because in this way the designer can receive a rich and various feedback, made of subjective and unique perceptions of the landscape. In this way, we think that a resilient, sustainable and democratic landscape can be accomplished, where inhabitants can feel “at home” and comfortable in sharing every-day experiences. The citizens (inhabitants or users) of the area that is gonna be the object of the change must be placed at the center of the process, so we hope that with the tools that characterize our short term, mid term and long term interventions this shift of the center can be made. It can be difficult to move people away from the “money call”, but we are sure that a blending of voices from a various but wide union of citizens can sensitize authorities.

Your references

....
....
....
....

LED Online Seminar 2017 - Working Group 6

Contents

Assignment 1 - Reading and Synthesizing Core Terminology