TOWARDS A LANDSCAPE THEORY

BY FERNANDO MARTINEZ AGUSTONI

LECTURE AT THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AMAPÁ, MACAPA, BRAZIL,

DECEMBER 10, 2008

PARTE DE LA PRESENTACIÓN

TOWARDS A LANDSCAPE THEORY

BY FERNANDO MARTINEZ AGUSTONI

CONDICIÓN HORIZONTE

PARTE DE LA PRESENTACIÓN

LECTURE AT THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AMAPÁ, MACAPA, BRAZIL,

DECEMBER 10, 2008

First of all, I am grateful for the invitation to the authorities of the University of Amapá and Dr. Antonio Barros which led to my arrival here in Brazil. I want, if you will allow me to dedicate this conference, first to a friend, Rosa Grena Klias Landscape Architect whose work you can enjoy the Macapaenses in Macapá site is that so lovingly they call : " the nice place. " On the other hand, the memory of a Brazilian who had the honor of knowing persona-lly, a Paulista, a great master of the global landscape: Mr. Roberto Burle Marx, who next year marks the centenary of his birth. It is the central theme of this conference, the historical process of recent decades, in which a discus-sion has been going around the concept of landscape or landscaping. I am not interested either com-pile a diverse array of ideas about the landscape is.

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TOWARDS A LANDSCAPE THEORY

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Our focus will be to propose some direction in the management of some speculative resources that allow us to address the theoretical question of landscape in a manner appropriate and con-textualized, and where possible, in a key strate-gic regional and local levels. The rationale behind this proposal is what we might call the form of insertion in the academic landscape, for reasons that we will make referen-ce, requires the development of content, going beyond the aesthetic conceptions cutting genera-lized and focused almost exclusivity, in the cons-truction of parks and gardens. When issues related to the landscape, become a subject covered by the University, the specificity of the landscape must be able to be recognized. True, the theory and criticism, do not enjoy much prestige within the disciplines projects, but also somehow being recognized, which is the lack of theoretical development, which leads to uncer-tainties and dependence as far as knowledge and ideology is concerned. Increasingly, recour-se to the appointment: "There is nothing more practical than a good theory", which some attribu-ted to Kurt Lewin, others to Chesterton. But whoe-ver it was, said something very true. It is in honor of this, that the way we propose to give light on the issues inherent in the interpreta-tion and intervention in the landscape that we propose is this: "Towards a landscape theory " So, to start and in that sense, it is necessary to provide a simple way which is what is meant by theory and on the other understand what we talked about when we talk about landscaping. To speak of theory, is a matter of agreeing on a notion of what theory is. A few months ago, re-viewing the José Antonio Marina work, "Theory of

creative intelligence", exactly, that made this author in the introduction to it, in order to promo-te an understanding of the ways in which is setting a theoretical proposal. This author refers to a notion of theory which in-volves: 1. a system of hypotheses which support and control each other, 2. a conceptual construct that organizes the knowledge of the field in question and finally, 3. that can be corroborated or refuted. Our aim now is to focus in the formulation of hypotheses, as a first step on the path that we intend, "Towards a theory". Furthermore, we approach the idea of landsca-ping generically as a particular form of interven-tion in the landscape. This is linked both to the need for some clarifications, in relation to the cha-racteristics of those interventions that make the aforementioned characteristic, and secondly to clarify as best as possible the concepts which contribute to the notion of landscape. In both the inherent characteristics of the inter-vention methods, correspond to such questions as: a. the construction of meaning and significance in relation to the human habitat; b. the aesthetic dimension, and c. finally a functional technical dimension relative

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to the individual, specifically on the subject and the human scale. The concept that conforms to such forms of inter-vention, whether the design concept, on which there has also been a controversy, no less com-plex than the above mentioned, and therefore it is necessary to approximate an appropriate de-sign concept and sustainable. In conclusion, the landscape theories as we approach the landscape theories and design theory. The landscaping as projective discipline. If we consider the discipline design projects, whi-le the landscaping is in landscape design, we can consider the latter also a discipline of this kind. To our knowledge by virtue of our experience, every discipline projective supports four types of theories: a. ontological b. methodological c. Ethics d. of field or historicalThis typology we propose such theory, enables the management and competition of different sce-narios. For our case those inherent in design theory and those that give rise to theories concerning the landscape.

Contextual theory, a matter of prioritization.

When we started the concept of theory adjecti-ves, use of language itself reveals the condition that any theory context dependence. The hierarchy of ideas in the formulation of hypo-theses, a process that we understand, does signi-ficantly different theoretical approaches. Contex-tualization of a theory depends, as it can not be otherwise, of the contextual factors that induce a particular kind of hierarchy of statements of hypo-theses. It is logical to think then, that factors of local or regional type defines a particular theoreti-cal form. This view opposes the idea of assu-ming that the shapes of theoretical design are universal. A theory can be practical, mainly for our region, if it functions as a resource of local resistance to globalizing tension, rather than spreading your vehicle. It is known that the regional university culture, a trend has developed based on the dichotomy between theory / practice, while it should not be one without the other. Moreover, someone can be questioned, and would be great for this were: what kind of theory or practice that would kind of go, whether dispensing with the other? So that is finally being consistent with the title of this conference you propose, as lines of work and introduce our way of research. 13 design hypothesis and 13 landscape hypothesis, allowing us to start our journey towards a lands-cape design theory ...

Design hypothesis 1. The design object is not the object. 2. The design is updated solutions to given pro-blems in the interaction between human beings and their habitat. Like art, design, construct the

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notion of living. 3. The category problem is determining the sco-pe of the intervention design, and simultaneously determined by the design that takes the latter. The design in our context demands a more holis-tic approach in human-habitat interaction. 4. The design object is to improve the quality of life of citizens. 5. The design concept has been established in the local imagination is associated with added value and market competitiveness, while conside-ration is emerging as social action and as a va-lue cultural. 6. The design concept according to its etymo-logy is associated with disegno (drawing in that shape), but is also profitable in theory, conceived as design, in the sense of designating (naming) or to fate. 7. The academic approach to education and de-sign in our environment, orbits the professional designer, if maybe I should do about design as practice and discipline of human knowledge pos-sible. 8. The professionalization of university-level de-sign should be geared towards research and ex-tension must be professional profile. 9. In the design exercise, a condition should pre-vail legitimately participatory clearly marked by a methodological tendency to focus on user expe-rience. 10. The theoretical approach can be performed

more effectively and systematically if one consi-ders the dimensions: ontological, methodologi-cal, ethical and field. 11. The design is ubiquitous. It is present in all areas of human activity and this means that they can be tackled from the grant of design as a field of knowledge. 12. While the design is updated, an appropriate design methodology requires recognizing the scope of the concept of updating, this inherent to a particular culture, "what the local specificity as far as regards design theory-A design methodo-logy requires tools to recognize and systematize information inherent to update factors, hierarchi-cal, optimize and transform it into projective pro-cedures. 13. Rationalization of the weighting of different dimensions of design is critical in an approach to discipline. For example, the ergonomic dimen-sion versus aesthetics

Landscape hypothesis

1. Landscaping transcends mere aesthetic solu-tion of environmental questions

2. The competitive landscape is the expression of man and nature. 3. The landscape category to interpret and inter-vene in the habitat of an effective way different from other categories such as: urban area, geo-graphic region, ecosystem, etc.. 4. A landscaping project involves providing solu-

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tions to problems of interaction with the landsca-pe habitat specificity. 5. If there is a cultural identity that is inherent in the territory, and it is through the notion of lands-cape, that such processes of identity can be un-derstood. 6. The uniqueness of the landscape is that it in-volves the subject beyond that of the compo-nents of the physical environment - biological. 7. There is a landscape subject issuer and the landscape is subjective. On the landscape, at the same time, operate across other forms of pro-duction of subjectivity, such as media, film, art, etc.8. Intervening in the landscape involves not inter-vene in the physical-biological environment. The landscape is a way of looking. A look culturally constructed. Intervening the landscape may well be looking to intervene 9. Conceiving of the landscape as a multidiscipli-nary attack on the possibility of recognizing the unique landscape of a project or problem. 10. The landscaping is inclined to a holistic view of problems of interaction with the habitat. The ways of professionalizing the landscape is a pro-jection of the architecture.

11. Meanwhile, require a shift to an increasingly extensión mode and the assumption of more par-ticipatory, synergistic homeostatic and synesthe-tic.12. The landscape is set to key environmental perception, so it depends on your character, mul-

tisensory, synergistic homeostatic and synesthe-tic. 13. Human is part of the landscape. There is an inherent right of individuals to landscape and wai-ting to be conquered.

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PAISAJE COMO INTERFASE. DIBUJO DEL AUTOR