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The Method of Structuralist
Landscape Planning Assessment
Doris Damyanovic 1 , Antonia Roither 2
1
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences,
Institute of Landscape Planning, Peter Jordan
Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
(e-mail: doris.damyanovic@boku.ac.at)
2
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life
Sciences, Institute of Landscape Planning, Peter Jordan
Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
(e-mail: antonia.roither@boku.ac.at)
Abstract
The structuralist landscape planning assessment (SLA)
is a new approach in the methodology of planning. It
aims at ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, i.e.
for women, men, young and elderly persons, in urban
landscapes. The urban landscape is a shifting and
transforming concept of the socio-political, cultural
and economic setting. The SLA method enables us
to understand the urban landscape as a result of
natural resources, economic decisions and social
circumstances. Referring to the Deleuzian concept,
we distinguish the real layer, i.e. the built (urban)
landscape, the imaginary layer, i.e. the models and
ideas, and the symbolic layer. The implementation
of the method in the planning practise is exemplified
by a case study. The structural analysis is carried
out using the 4R method to identify the impact of
planning models on socio-economic life settings.
In implementation, the steps of the 4R analysis
are applied in reverse order. The method supports
the application of the three structuralist layers in
the processes of planning. The SLA applies the
4R method in both analysis and implementation in
order to enable equal access to urban landscape.
Key words
Landscape research methodology, gender equality,
social sustainability, structuralist analysis of urban
landscape.
Introduction
European policies make a strong commitment to provide
equal opportunities for EU citizens and ensure the social
sustainability of the urban landscapes they live in (e.g.
Treaty of Amsterdam, Local Agenda 21). This paper discusses
the method of structuralist planning assessment
(SLA) as a planning approach to ensure equal access
to urban landscapes. It accounts for gender equality in
landscape planning and landscape architecture. This
structuralist method is close to the primary concept of
“landscape urbanism” where “new possibilities for future
urbanism derive […] from an understanding of process”
(Corner 2005: 29).
The basic assumption of the paper refers to Feuerbach’s
idea that the urban landscape fabric is not equally available
and accessible for men and women (e.g. Fenster
2008, Witthöft 2005). The planning disciplines have the
social assignment to equally allocate resources such as
time, space and money. Post-modern and neo-liberal
ideas influence urban development. They transform the
former objectives of freedom, autonomy and self-consciousness
to integral parts of hegemony (e.g. Foucault
1978, Boltanski/Chiapello 2003). Two Foucaultian terms,
“gouvernementalité” and “dispositif”, describe this technique
of overall power. But resistance, opposition and
self-determination are resilient, and groups from different
disciplines work hard to break up the circle of disappropriation
and assignment (e.g. Bourdieu 2005:13ff). The
objective of this structuralist, gender-sensitive scientific
method is to reorder the ‘planning/conception/value loop’
to achieve a democratic and enabling approach. Differences
in age, life situations, cultural and social backgrounds
are taken into consideration. The aim of landscape
planning and architecture is to create and maintain
useable and adjustable built (and open space) structures,
urban landscape fabrics, route networks, streets,
walkways, squares, social and technical infrastructure.
The everyday usability and adjustability are prerequisites
to provide equal access for men and women to the urban
landscape (e.g. Fainstein/Servon, 1995).
Theory and praxis
The theoretical assumptions of the paper are based on
the critical theory of landscape planning (e.g. Schneider
2002) and on the feministic “difference concept” put
forward by the Milan Women’s Bookstore Collective (e.g.
Libreria delle donne di Milano 1989, 1996). Critical theory
reconsiders the existing approaches in society and opens
up perspectives for change, bringing about the “emancipation
of enslaving conditions” (Horkheimer 2005:
263). The philosophical concept of difference focuses
on differences and appreciates them, for being enriching
and a potential for change. The methodological basis
is the approved empirical working method of landscape
planning: perceiving – mapping – describing – comparing
– comprehending – contextualising. The starting point for
planning is an exemplary spatial structure, e.g. an urban
or open space. By comparison with other examples, a
typology can be found out. The underlying structures and
principles are extracted. Reflexion through contextualising
leads to a deeper understanding of the principles of
urban landscape and the socio-economic setting.