Recording and Conceptualising Cultural Values in Landscape: The Travelling Transect-based Drawing approach

Abstract

Landscape conservation should follow a holistic approach to record and conceptualising cultural values in a larger context. Stephenson’s ‘Cultural Values’ model helps in the conceptualization of three components of values as Forms, Relationships and Practices across space and time. The current study intends to record and conceptualise the cultural values in a landscape. Based on the travelling transect-based drawing approach, the current study narrates the researcher’s observations and experiences on three train trips between the cities. During these trips, the researcher thinks, draws, and writes as much of what one could observe and experience along the travel. The study outcomes include several analytical drawings and textual narratives that express significant tangible features, relationships, and practices as values of the landscape. The application of the travelling transect-based drawing approach helps in recording and conceptualising the values of the landscape; it can therefore instigate the “systems thinking” approach as the knowledge of natural and cultural systems beyond space and time. The knowledge also helps address the challenges that include conservation-development conflicts in historically urban areas of India and evoke appropriate interventions to several conservation and planning practices. Such a skillset would further enhance one’s analytical thinking abilities towards listing the unprotected natural and cultural heritage in historic urban landscape areas.