Landscape, memory and contemporary design
- Gire Calderon
- Oct 14, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 27, 2019
By: Gire Calderon
Panita Karamanea is a greek landscape architect. She did her studies in Athens and Barcelona
Her research is studies the connection between the landscape and built the environment. She
has participated and won several international competitions.
This essay explores the relationship between the landscape, the identity and the memory of
the place. And the way it coexists with design and visual form. The text is divided is two parts.
The first part explains different approaches in the different designs and the second part is a
review of three case studies where the relationship between identity, memory and landscape is
studied. The author quotes references from many important urbanists and theorist to get her
message across.
Karamanea states the importance of landscape architecture as it can be detrimental for
understanding a site and enriching its spacial designs. She affirms that landscape architecture
defines the relationship between the builder and the environment. It is the median between
nature and culture. She argues that when we look at the landscape is something constantly
evolving both visually and physically. Thus stating the importance of Genius Loci.
Genius Loci, In Norberg Schulz words is “the spirit of the place”. Is the intangible quality that
makes a space unique. A place is essential to us because according to Simon Bell, our sense of
identity is attached to it.
So the way landscape architects intervene the site is based on the physical features of the site,
what gives it spacial identity and the human relationship to the space. Karamanea argues that
without people, landscapes are no longer living spaces.
Karamanea states the landscape and memory are deeply connected with the sense of identity
of a place and its users. She argues that myths, historical associations, fears, the feelings
related to the space gives them its genius love. She added that we also have to take in
consideration the way it makes us feel, live and perform in it.
In the three case studies we analyzed. We studied three different but very similar types of
interventions. The first example was a square that needed to be reinvented. The landscape
design used minimal symbolic elements giving a new purpose to the square. The second
intervention used an ecological design to rejuvenate the site. The third intervention used the
natural environment with minimal interventions.
One of examples that came to my mind while reading the second intervention was what
designers did to the Cardiff Castle. I visited Cardiff last year and I found the design ecological
design and the minimal intervention they did on point. How they manage to preserve its
genius loci and historical importance just by adding small ecological elements. The way they
could hide these interventions and adapt the castle to modern days.
Another example of this would be in my hometown, at the colonial zone in Santo Domingo.
Acupuncture design just by making some streets pedestrian, restrict parking spaces and
adding lighting fixtures. They managed to achieve a different walkable city.
Nowadays in the complicated world we live in, Designing places that people feel a sense of
belonging is more important than ever. Spaces where people can socialize and create a sense
of place.
Words:
Topos: Traditional theme in literature
Genius Loci: “the spirit of the place”. The intangible quality that makes a space unique
Questions:
Is it possible to create “Genius Loci” in contemporary transitional spaces?
How does our sense of identity or place influence us in our design approach?
References:
Karamena P., 2015, Landscape, memory and contemporary design, pages 113-133
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