Landscape : pattern, perception and process

Landscapes develop and evolve through an interacting series of processes - climatic, geological, ecological and cultural - over varying periods of time. These processes shape the structure and character of the landscapes which we experience. Over time, distinctive patterns emerge - ranging in scale from the distribution of small plants to the sculptured sides of a huge canyon. Our perception of these patterns goes beyond just their visual appreciation - beautiful though they may be - into a richer understanding of how we experience our environment.

By understanding this complex pattern-process interaction we can obtain a deeper awareness of landscape and our place in it - as inhabitants and as shapers. The book explores the nature of patterns and ways of classifying them before studying the nature of perception (primarily visual but including other senses), then proceeds to relate this perception to aesthetics and from there to the design process. From this point the main driving processes in landscape are introduced alongside the resulting patterns, these being climatic, landform, ecosystem and cultural aspects.

It is this integrative approach of looking at landscape as a kind of self-organising system, overlaid by conscious human planning activities and the unity of pattern and process, which makes this book unique. Landscape draws from a wide range of neighbouring disciplines, of which the landscape planner or designer needs to be aware, but which are often taught as distinct elements. Bell binds these fundamentals together, which enables the landscape to be 'read', and this reading to be used as the basis for planning and design.

This second edition updates and refreshes the original material with added sections and new photos, particularly making use of the developments in satellite photography. Featuring full colour throughout, this textbook is ideal for anyone studying landscape architecture or any of the disciplines which intersect with the landscape, and which affect it.

Author Notes

Simon Bell is Associate Director of OPENspace Research Centre, Edinburgh College of Art, UK, and a forester and landscape architect. He is also Professor of Landscape Architecture at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.

Acknowledgements	p. viii
Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
The View from Scarth Nick	p. 1
The Importance of Patterns	p. 3
The Relevance of Pattern Analysis	p. 3
The Origins of this Book	p. 7
Chapter 1 What are Patterns?	p. 11
Patterns are all Around us	p. 11
What are Patterns?	p. 12
Towards an Understanding of Patterns in an Uncertain World	p. 13
Geometric Principles	p. 17
Review of Pattern Analysis Methods	p. 20
Mosaic Landscapes	p. 28
The Patterns of Chaos	p. 33
Patterns Created by People	p. 33
Summary and Conclusions	p. 36
Chapter 2 The Perception of Patterns	p. 39
Introduction	p. 39
The Senses and their use in Perception	p. 39
Light as the Medium of Visual Perception	p. 43
The Physiology of Visual Perception	p. 44
The Psychology of Visual Perception	p. 48
Processes of Pattern Recognition	p. 57
Summary and Conclusions	p. 60
Chapter 3 The Aesthetics of the Landscape	p. 63
Introduction	p. 63
The Nature of Aesthetics	p. 64
Environment and Landscape	p. 65
What is an Aesthetic Experience?	p. 67
Pleasure as a Part of the Aesthetic Experience	p. 72
Beauty and the Sublime	p. 73
The Aesthetic Theory of Alfred North Whitehead	p. 78
Ecology and Aesthetics	p. 82
Environmentalism and Aesthetics	p. 83
The Individual Versus Universal Appreciation	p. 85
Aesthetics: Integration of Perception and Knowledge	p. 92
Characteristics and Qualities in the Landscape	p. 94
The Aesthetics of Engagement	p. 96
The Rediscovered Sublime	p. 101
Summary and Conclusions	p. 102
Chapter 4 Design with Landscapes	p. 107
Introduction	p. 107
The Place of Landscape Design and Designers	p. 107
Design Methods and Practice	p. 112
Creativity as Part of the Design Process	p. 117
Summary and Conclusions	p. 122
Chapter 5 Climate Patterns and Processes	p. 125
Introduction	p. 125
The Spatial Patterns of Climate	p. 126
The Temporal Patterns of Climate Since the Last Ice Age	p. 129
Climate Changes and Human History	p. 131
The Main Climatic Processes	p. 137
Linking Climate to Geological, Ecological and Cultural Patterns and Processes	p. 141
Summary and Conclusions	p. 142
Chapter 6 Landform Patterns and Processes	p. 143
Introduction	p. 144
The Structure of the Earth's Crust	p. 144
Vulcanism	p. 145
Mountain Building	p. 147
Moulding the Land	p. 149
Relevance of Landform Patterns	p. 163
Analysing Landform Patterns	p. 163
Analysing Hydrological Patterns	p. 170
Design of Landforms	p. 170
Summary and Conclusions	p. 177
Chapter 7 Ecosystem Patterns and Processes	p. 181
Introduction	p. 181
Landform Effects on Ecosystem Patterns and Processes	p. 182
Vegetation Patterns: Structure and Dynamics	p. 187
Natural Disturbance in the Landscape	p. 204
Analysing Ecological Patterns	p. 225
Landscape Ecological Analysis	p. 229
Designing Ecosystems	p. 237
Modelling Dynamic Ecosystems	p. 243
Summary and Conclusions	p. 245
Chapter Eight: Cultural Patterns and Processes p. 247
Introduction	p. 247
Early Cultural Landscapes: Hunter-Gatherers	p. 248
Pastoral Landscapes	p. 250
Early Cultivated landscapes	p. 254
The Pattern of Agricultural Development	p. 256
Planned Landscapes	p. 265
Settlement Patterns	p. 277
Towns and Cities	p. 286
Conclusions to the Study of Human Patterns	p. 295
Analysing Cultural Patterns	p. 296
Planning and Designing with Cultural Patterns and Processes	p. 310
Modelling Urban Development	p. 321
Summary and Conclusions	p. 322
Chapter 9 Reclaiming the Landscape	p. 325
Introduction	p. 325
How can current political and legislative initiatives for protecting the environment be translated into more effective action using limited resources?	p. 328
How can relationships between communities and landscapes be revitalizaed and how can people in these communities become more involved in developing their own sustainable solutions to the problems they face?	p. 328
How can scientific and professional landscape and environmental disciplines be better integrated so that truly holistic, sustainable solutions are achieved?	p. 330
Where should the understanding of pattern and process-based planning and design be applied?	p. 331
Conclusions	p. 333
Bibliography	p. 334
Index	p. 340

Available:*

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents