The Spatial Structure of The Landscape as One of the Elements of the Landscape Identity

Abstract

The landscape identity is a holistic concept and includes many aspects of equal importance. Studies of the landscape identity often reflect local-scale aspects of the landscape identity; this is due to the emphasis and exploration of cultural and historical landscapes – through researching of a traditional management, traditional technology, the usage of local materials and local traditions. On a local scale, there are individual details, events, and people. The visual analysis and methods developed on its basis are mostly used in the studies of landscape identity. The architectural science recognizes the power of visual message which should be a planned and strategically guided aspect, as it has a significant impact on the forming of an overall image of the urban environment, as a visual message is a source of information and a topical issue in the context of the urban landscape. One of the characteristics of the visual aspects is the spatial structure formed by the building volume, the terrain, and the groups of woody plants, the planes formed by pavements, streets, meadows and fields, the water surface. Landscape identity is also based on the cognitive landscape research. The study of the interaction between identity and geographical environment provides an answer to how the transition from physical to socially cognitive identity occurs. Equally important is the group of cultural historical aspects of the landscape, based on multiple studies of the history of a particular place – from the beginnings of landscape formation, where morphological and climatic factors play an important role, to human made elements, where changes in the landscape structure and individual landscape elements are as a result of human economic activity that reflects the political, social and economic situation of the country. In the landscape planning process, the concept of the landscape identity is used to reinforce the character, distinction and specificity of each populated place or rural landscape, which is essential to preserve in creating structures and objects of a new landscape. The purpose of this article is to analyze the role of a spatial structure in the overall image of the landscape identity, as well as the subconscious, cognitive aspects that people think of landscape identity by common spatial structure, abstracting, smoothing out details, and giving symbolic meaning. The article summarizes the spatial structures of different landscapes, analyzes their diversity in both rural and urban environments, classifying them into types and subtypes. The article develops various spatial models and analyzes the cognitive perception of people using the survey capabilities. As a result, there are defined the role of the spatial structure in the comprehension of the landscape identity and recommendations for the inclusion and preservation of important spatial structures and elements in the planning process.