Overlapping Layers: a representation and learning landscape code for Dropull

Abstract

This research paper provides a base for drawing up the development of a general strategy and “acupunctural” experiences to identify and record liminal landscape potentialities of the Municipality of Dropull, located in the South-eastern cross border area between Albania and Greece. According to this key objective, the study looks at the liminal characteristics and potentials of Sofratikë, one of the four villages of the valley of the Drinos River, in order to achieve the knowledge and understanding of many positive features related to the liminal dimensions of landscape, metaphysical landscapes, and landscape experience. The analysis moves from two main driver-topics - “Landscape” and “History”, to a general strategy that defines acupunctural interventions at a later stage. The acupunctural systems – water, roads, mountains, valley, archaeological area, and Sofratikë village - are those landscape and design strategies aimed at identifying specific sub-areas of intervention in the macro landscape unit. In fact, they are independent parts of the landscape, which - if interconnected - allow an overview of the macro landscape unit. Therefore, the acupunctural interventions become actions of modification and sustainable development of the territory, because of levels of the same landscape unit, or rather of the same milieu. In the order to achieve these aims, the research identifies a specific methodology, by focusing on Sofratikë’s landscape’ layers, classifying different stratification layers of the area: archaeological area, historic-settlement, rural and agricultural landscape. A first approach to analyze Sofratikë's landscape is aimed at mapping and – at a later stage - overlapping the main physical layers, which have been defined and distinguished as the following stratification levels: the mountains, Sofratikë city, the quarry, the agricultural fields, Hadrianopoli. Starting from this investigation and after an overall photo screening, a first, possible general strategy has been outlined, focusing on the identification of two main liminal development directions. Within the first direction, the longitudinal liminality has been analysed, connecting Sofratikë’s historical and rural city with the archaeological area of Hadrianopoli, through the main physical infrastructure - the national road - and natural systems – agriculture landscape and Drinos River. The second direction highlights the transversal liminality developing the connection between the SofratiKë system (just embedded the historic city, Hadrianopoli, natural, rural and infrastructure systems) with other archaeological sites like Antigonea and Melan. Once this framework has been established, the main acupunctural strategy to achieve the revitalization of this site has been investigated. Four principal clusters have been identified as driver-systems to plan the punctual redevelopment strategy and related following acupunctural activities