Rising above surface

he present research aims to explore a method of landscape reading and analysis through traditional water systems. Throughout the collection of local knowledge about water management in two opposite parts of the world it  is possible to learn how natural resources have been used in local communities...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rapa Surajaras, Catalina Rey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stichting OpenAccess 2021-12-01
Series:Spool
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.spool.ac/index.php/spool/article/view/189
_version_ 1798000504077287424
author Rapa Surajaras
Catalina Rey
author_facet Rapa Surajaras
Catalina Rey
author_sort Rapa Surajaras
collection DOAJ
description he present research aims to explore a method of landscape reading and analysis through traditional water systems. Throughout the collection of local knowledge about water management in two opposite parts of the world it  is possible to learn how natural resources have been used in local communities for hundreds of years to generate resilient, circular and multi-functional water and land management. In order to create a base knowledge to provide lessons for today’s urban challenges, we have analyzed two traditional water systems: The Xinghua Duotian agro system in China and the Chinampas floating gardens in Mexico. Through a systematic collection of data and generation of comparative drawings, maps and diagrams, we were able to understand the logic behind the water management and to extrapolate possible design and strategic principles to be applied in present landscape and urban design. To achieve the proposed objectives, the ‘illustrative method’ (Bobbink and Ruy, 2017) was used. The illustrative method is based on the form-layer method (Steenbergen et al. 2008), which is used as an analytical tool to comprehend the relation between landscape interventions and its site based in 4 basic layers: basic form, program form, image form, and special form (Bobbink, 2019). During the research process, the method was adapted in order to analyze the specific cultural landscapes used as case studies (Xinghua Duotian and Chinampas). Because the form-layer method has been developed for landscape architectonic design we found it necessary to extend the analysis in further layers to reveal other landscape values such as use, maintenance and the circularity of human made traditional water systems (Bobbink, 2019). From the analysis of both water systems, we could extract two main lessons that can help us to design and plan more resilient and sustainable cities. Firstly, the possibility of designing a method of settlement and urban expansion based on natural principles where circularity is a key element to generate a sustainable way of extraction and restoration of natural resources. And secondly, that specific landscape identities, such as wetland and lakes, can be a provider of multi-functional development for cities where agriculture, economy, urban expansion and ecology are part of the similar network. Using these principles that are the basis of the analyzed water systems, we can come back to a more sustainable, circular and multi-functional way of using our natural resources.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T11:21:20Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2b175740c3904ad39badecc6a5df8f8f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2215-0897
2215-0900
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T11:21:20Z
publishDate 2021-12-01
publisher Stichting OpenAccess
record_format Article
series Spool
spelling doaj.art-2b175740c3904ad39badecc6a5df8f8f2022-12-22T04:26:59ZengStichting OpenAccessSpool2215-08972215-09002021-12-0183Rising above surfaceRapa Surajaras0Catalina Rey 1OKRA landschapsarchitectenWageningen University & Research he present research aims to explore a method of landscape reading and analysis through traditional water systems. Throughout the collection of local knowledge about water management in two opposite parts of the world it  is possible to learn how natural resources have been used in local communities for hundreds of years to generate resilient, circular and multi-functional water and land management. In order to create a base knowledge to provide lessons for today’s urban challenges, we have analyzed two traditional water systems: The Xinghua Duotian agro system in China and the Chinampas floating gardens in Mexico. Through a systematic collection of data and generation of comparative drawings, maps and diagrams, we were able to understand the logic behind the water management and to extrapolate possible design and strategic principles to be applied in present landscape and urban design. To achieve the proposed objectives, the ‘illustrative method’ (Bobbink and Ruy, 2017) was used. The illustrative method is based on the form-layer method (Steenbergen et al. 2008), which is used as an analytical tool to comprehend the relation between landscape interventions and its site based in 4 basic layers: basic form, program form, image form, and special form (Bobbink, 2019). During the research process, the method was adapted in order to analyze the specific cultural landscapes used as case studies (Xinghua Duotian and Chinampas). Because the form-layer method has been developed for landscape architectonic design we found it necessary to extend the analysis in further layers to reveal other landscape values such as use, maintenance and the circularity of human made traditional water systems (Bobbink, 2019). From the analysis of both water systems, we could extract two main lessons that can help us to design and plan more resilient and sustainable cities. Firstly, the possibility of designing a method of settlement and urban expansion based on natural principles where circularity is a key element to generate a sustainable way of extraction and restoration of natural resources. And secondly, that specific landscape identities, such as wetland and lakes, can be a provider of multi-functional development for cities where agriculture, economy, urban expansion and ecology are part of the similar network. Using these principles that are the basis of the analyzed water systems, we can come back to a more sustainable, circular and multi-functional way of using our natural resources. https://www.spool.ac/index.php/spool/article/view/189Traditional water systemirrigationdrainagefloating farmlandcircularitysustainable living
spellingShingle Rapa Surajaras
Catalina Rey
Rising above surface
Spool
Traditional water system
irrigation
drainage
floating farmland
circularity
sustainable living
title Rising above surface
title_full Rising above surface
title_fullStr Rising above surface
title_full_unstemmed Rising above surface
title_short Rising above surface
title_sort rising above surface
topic Traditional water system
irrigation
drainage
floating farmland
circularity
sustainable living
url https://www.spool.ac/index.php/spool/article/view/189
work_keys_str_mv AT rapasurajaras risingabovesurface
AT catalinarey risingabovesurface