Sema Mumcu

An aesthetic approach to planting design in urban parks and greenspaces

Abstract This study attempts to contribute planting design theory by providing a visual analysis of, and in the aesthetic sense an alternative scenario for, planting design practices in urban parks and greenspaces. In the study, plants are regarded as effective elements and an expression of form and texture. A matrix is developed to assess their formal effects by experts. Development of the matrix incorporates visual properties of plants, basic design principles, and Gestalt theory. Visual analysis of existing planting design practices in six different silhouettes in two urban parks and an alternative planting design scenario is then suggested. This study, developing a method to analyse a landscape silhouette, provides clues to produce ideal silhouettes in terms of formal aesthetics using design principles. It is suggested that there is a potential for landscape researchers to further develop this method using other variables of formal aesthetics and Gestalt principles and in other settings.

SİMGESEL PEYZAJ TASARIMI ARACILIĞIYLA KİMLİĞİN SERGİLENMESİ

Surekli degisen dunyada tutarlilik insanlar icin vazgecilmez bir ihtiyactir ve tutarliligin arayisinda mekanlarla kurulan duygusal baglar, psikolojik dengenin onemli bir bilesenidirler. Bu nedenle insan-mekan etkilesiminin sonucu olusan yer kimligi, yere baglilik, yer duygusu gibi kavramlar cevresel psikoloji ve cevresel tasarim alanlarinda son yillarda daha siklikla dile getirilmektedirler. Bu arastirmada yer kimligi kavramina odaklanilmistir. Mekanin tasarlanmasi sureci icinde kimlik ve simgesellik nasil ele alinir? Bir topluma ait degerler ve kimlik, mekan bilesen ve ogeleriyle nasil iliskilendirilir? Bu sorulara iliskin cevresel tasarim ve cevresel psikoloji alaninda onemli bir bosluk vardir. Tasarimcilarin yerin kimligini goz onunde bulundurarak yerin olusumunda neleri onemsedigi, neleri daha sik kullandigi bu calismada anlasilmaya calisilmistir. Karadeniz Teknik Universitesi, Peyzaj Mimarligi Bolumu’nde farkli yillarda toplam 97 son sinif ogrencisi ile yurutulen arastirmada ogrencilere Trabzon’daki bir kent parkinda simgesel bir mekan tasarlanacagi; bu durumda ogrencilerin tasarim konseptleri, tasarlanacak mekanin turu, mekanda yer alacak etkinlikler ve mekan bilesenlerinin neler olacagi sorusu yoneltilmistir. Konseptlerin siniflandirilmasi en cok kentin kulturel ozelliklerine, daha sonra sosyal ozelliklerine ve ardindan dogal ozelliklerine odaklanildigini gostermistir. Ayrica mekan turleri, etkinlikler ve mekan bilesenlerine iliskin analizler de yurutulmustur. Kente iliskin kulturel ve sosyal ozelliklerin ve kentle ozdeslesmis etkinliklerin (horon/kolbasti oynamak, kemence dinlemek, hamsi soleni vb. gibi) agirlik kazanmasi yerel kimlige agirlik verildigini, milli/ulusal kimligin de vurgulandigi ancak yerel kimlik kadar tasarim kararlarina yansimadigi saptanmistir.

Symbolic Landscapes and Their Spatial Components: Understanding the Environmental Design Vocabulary of Place Identity

One of the most concrete problems created by the forces of globalization is identity loss, which is becoming increasingly widespread. In this context, urban governments often expect environmental designers and planners to create open spaces characteristic of the city and define their own identity values. This situation increases the importance of questions such as how landscape architects relate spatial components and identity features in a design, what kind of design vocabulary is adopted in open space design in terms of place identity. In this research, conducted with 165 senior landscape architecture students in different years, participants were asked to define the spatial components if they were to design a symbolic space in an urban park in Trabzon city. Categorization of the spatial components revealed that monumental components were depicted and most frequently used to make connections with an identity feature. Students used a variety of features such as form, color, material and patterns connected to city’s cultural, social, natural and historical attributes. However, some students’ design suggestions revealed the need to enhance their level of information and experiences in terms of aesthetic/perceptual dimension with extra practices because their suggestions had elements of kitsch. Current World Environment Journal Website: www.cwejournal.org ISSN: 0973-4929, Vol. 12, No. (3) 2017, Pg. 600-606 CONTACT Sema Mumcu semamumcu@ktu.edu.tr Dep. of Landscape Architecture, Karadeniz Technical University, , Trabzon,

Complexity, Historicity and Coherence: Preference and Quality of the Changes in the Urban Scene

Abstract In order to meet the needs and desires of the community and to shape the environment successfully it is important to reveal how we perceive the landscape and the factors that affect our preferences for different landscapes. This study focused on the role of several visual quality concepts, including complexity, coherence and historicity, and on the preference for changing the scenery of a city. To fulfill the objectives of the research, 107 people were asked to evaluate old and new scenes of Trabzon city using these concepts, and their preferences for various scenes were identified. Findings showed that complexity, coherence and historicity have an influence on environmental preferences. An inverse U-shape relationship was found between complexity and preference. The scenes with a medium level of complexity were preferred to the scenes with a higher or lower level of complexity. Coherence and historicity were found to be directly related to preference. In this paper, the general features of complexity, historicity and coherence were considered valid for assessment and preference of the urban scene.

Water Reflections on the Social Dimension of Place: Different Waterscapes and Related Activity Patterns

Bu calismada farkli su ogelerinin insan psikolojisi uzerindeki etkileri ve bulunduklari mekanlardaki insan etkinliklerini nasil etkiledikleri belirlenmistir. Bu gorus dogrultusunda insanlarin psikolojik ihtiyaclarini (sosyal etkilesim, olumlu kimlik, psikolojik refah gibi) daha iyi karsilayan ve o cevre icinde yer alan insan etkinliklerini daha iyi destekleyen, daha etkin su ogelerinin tasariminda kullanilabilecek bazi ilkelerin uzerinde durulmustur. Farkli su ogelerinin psikolojik etkileri (enerji, hareket, cosku, sakinlik, rahatlama gibi) ve mekansal etkinliklerle iliskileri kamera goruntulerinin kullanildigi gorsel anket calismasiyla saptanmistir. Hareketli ve durgun su ogelerinin psikolojik etkileri ve cevrelerindeki etkinliklerin gerceklesmesi uzerinde oynadiklari rolu anlamak icin anketten elde edilen veriler analiz edilmistir. Farkli su ogelerinin insanlar uzerinde farkli psikolojik etkileri oldugu ve su ogelerinin etkisinin icinde bulundugu mekanin etkinliklerine buyuk oranda bagli oldugu bulunmustur. Bu sonuclardan yola cikarak su elemanlarinin tasariminda etkin olabilecek bazi onemli tasarim ilkeleri sunulmustur.Anahtar kelimeler: Su ogeleri, Psikolojik ihtiyaclar, Su-Etkinlik Iliskisi