Contents
Working Group 3: Vác -Towards a Living Landscape Biography
Group lead
Adrian Noortman (LNI), Luigi Bartolomei (UniBo/OLA), Tayana Passos (MATE)
Our design challenge
How might we create a living landscape biography of Vác?
Landscape biography is a methodology and an interdisciplinary approach (Kolen et al, 2015) to studying the historical, cultural, and environmental development of landscapes over time. It integrates perspectives from geography, archaeology, history, and ecology to explore how human activities and natural processes have shaped the landscape and created multiple identities over time. This method treats the landscape as a living document or narrative, emphasising its dynamic interaction with people, societal changes, and natural processes.
In this working group we will explore what a living landscape biography approach might comprise. We want to understand how it might help creating innovative and creative approaches to the community’s interactions with the landscape.
We will investigate how the integration of outdoor play areas and the evolving nature experiences in Vác can help reinforce the town’s historical identity and strengthen community bonds, particularly focusing on its children and broader population.
Local dynamics and opportunities
- Integration of historical and natural spaces: Examining how Vác’s public spaces, streets, parks, gardens, and riverbanks, steeped in history, can be adapted or enhanced to provide meaningful play and learning experiences. These areas serve as gateways for engaging with both the natural environment and the town’s multifaceted heritage.
- Outdoor play areas: Focusing on the design and development of outdoor play areas that reflect local culture and history, creating spaces that are not only fun but also educational. This includes incorporating elements that tell stories of the town’s past or use traditional materials and designs.
Objectives
- Revitalise historical outdoor play areas: Discover and imagine new outdoor play areas that are inspired by Vác’s cultural and historical elements
- Enhance quality of nature experiences: Develop initiatives to maintain and enhance the quality of nature experiences in Vác’ in combination with appreciating landscape history, such as planting native species, restoring natural habitats, and ensuring that natural areas are accessible and inviting to all residents.
- Community outreach: Create communication strategies and community projects that involve residents in the preservation and enhancement of outdoor play and nature areas, fostering a sense of ownership and a deeper connection to local heritage.
- Promote intergenerational learning: Encourage activities that bring different generations together in outdoor settings, such as storytelling sessions, historical nature tours, and heritage-themed scavenger hunts, promoting shared learning and appreciation for Vác’s history.
Expected outcomes
- A methodical framework for a living landscape biography for Vác, including amongst others a possible process model and multi-dimensional maps / participatory maps
- Design ideas how to implement the living landscape biography in the townscape, in particular in relation to open spaces and play areas
- Linking Vác to good practice cases and transfer of knowledge to the local community
- Some local interventions to exemplify and test the living landscape biography in cooperation with cross-cutting group 6 on democratic landscape transformation