Landform and Protection of Historic Urban Landscapes

Ref.: 70
Key theme: 01 Physical integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 15/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

THOMAS, Siegmar * (Germany) - Dresden University of Technology

ABSTRACT

I Aims and definitions
This paper is dedicated to physical integrity of HUL; landscape ecology; and visual effects.
Natural Landscape: with no stronger human intervention (old deserts, rugged land form, ...)
(Agri-)Cultural Landscape (AL), dominated by land form and agricultural use \
(terraces on steeper slopes; often with architectural monuments) } often combined
Urban C. Landscape (UL), dominated by land form and buildings, / in conurbations:
larger settlements Upper Elbe conurbation,
(with gardens, parks,...) Saxony (with Dresden Elbe Valley)
Historic UL: an UL from one (or more overlaying) closed historic epoque(s);
Historic AL: praehistoric, closed historic epoque(s).
Monuments should be protected within their landscape (1; 2; 3), e.g. by buffer zones, viewing
axes (orthogonal or central coordinate system). The main aims of sustainable UL planning are to
reverse or at least minimize the decrease and loss of diversity and naturalness (landform,
biosphere, cultural history), elimination of historic regional settlements and agricultural areas.
II Landform - a basis of HUL, Landscape Ecology and Human's Perception of Landscape
and Urban Scenery.
The landform diversity (complementary elevations / depressions (figure)) represents all
geographical factors (geology, soils, hydrology, local and micro climate, natural vegetation, dry /
wet sites including potentially flooded areas). A monument's sphere of visual perceptibility
depends on size and shape of the building, its surroundings and relief position (site on hilltops or
within valleys). Single dominant (vertical) elements may be ruling HUL. Otherwise important
Hanoi, The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, 5-10 April 2009
buildings can be subordinate embedded in a vertical background `wall' (mountain range slopes,
settlement fringes, dense groups of skyscrapers). Analysis of the visibility of monuments is
needed from important sites of the viewshed (analogy: watershed).
III Threatening processes to functional, ecological, visual and historic integrity of HUL
a River and sea floods (e.g. Elbe river flood of historic center Dresden, 2002 (Thomas 2008));
b Man-made decrease of landform diversity;
c Urban pollution of air, water, soil, (e.g. by 'industrialized' urban mini plot agriculture);
of monuments and their building materials;
d Changes in land use: new reservoirs in depressions or removing a reflecting water body;
afforestation of viewing axes;
e Loss of indigenous species;
f Intersecting of functional, ecological and visual integrity by new infrastructure traces;
g The original effect of monuments is often reduced by large buildings in the vicinity, e.g. as
barriers obstructing the view (examples: Entrance Crown tower of the Zwinger castle, Dresden
(photo); Berlin Cathedral from 1905 near to the former barock town castle (SCHLÜTER) and to
the Old Museum (SCHINKEL); and worldwide well known skyscrapers (e.g. once planned near to
Cologne Cathedral).
IV Conclusions
Measures are needed to avoid or minimize processes IIIa to g, e.g. removing of natural erosion
channels / valleys (worthy biological diversity). New buildings within HUL should be planned with
no serious visual overlapping. It will be given a figure for the basic description, analysis and
monitoring of HUL. This is related to the analysis and description of a 'sphere of effect' and
'protection area' around a monument after Eidloth (2008): The boundary of these spheres follows
the water divides. In different world cultures exist monuments within sacred groves, e.g.
monasteries in East Asia.

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