B 7.2 The study of non-rural landscapes

[TERCUD]

"What happens in the suburban or rurban areas is an example of one of the deep trends of contemporary attitudes concerning landscapes: the social demand relative to them is diversifying. For long, the two main functions they had to perform for human beings was to participate in the productive process and to provide space for housing and social activities.
Today, there are groups which struggle for the restoration of «true» nature: any human presence (except for a few natural scientists) and interference has to be avoided – it is important to leave room for «natural» processes and the development of «natural» balances.
Another demand is for sport and tourism activities. In montainous areas, people chose to live at higher altitudes in order to be closer to Alpine summits, glaciers and snowfields. Along the seashores, it is the proximity of the sea, the presence of clean and white sandy beaches, the tall silhouettes of coconut palm trees which are the more valued.
There is a growing proportion of people for whom landscapes are just a scenery in front of which it is pleasant to perform their productive roles or to inscribe their personal and familial existence: hence the success of suburban and rurban environments, the building of neighbourhoods or even cities reminiscent of medieval times, of the Renaissance, or of the City Beautiful Movement – as in the creations of Disney in Florida; hence the gentrification of old districts, once dilapidated, and which, after restoration, provide a pleasant environment for the new elites.
The design of urban landscapes was traditionnally based on functional forms and the glorification of power and ruling elites. The situation is now different: postmodern architecture is based on the use of forms which reminds us of other places and other times; the aim is to create pleasant scenery, to invite to leisure, to dream. It has nothing to do with the main aspects of productive life, the exercise of power or the search for the Ultimate Truth. It is made for entertainement."

(This is an excerpt from the text by Professor Paul Claval “THE IDEA OF LANDSCAPE”)