URBAN LANDSCAPE: CHARACTERISTICS, ELEMENTS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The urban landscape is the mixture of environmental and human phenomena that coexist in a particular place. In turn, urban space is understood as the population center and the common landscape of cities. Generally, it is used as a synonym for urban environment or urban area.

Throughout history, the human being has always sought dominion over nature. At first simply to build a house and shelter from environmental problems and nature itself (rain, cold, dangerous animals, etc.). Over time, this led to the building of civilizations thanks to collective communications.

For this reason, immigration from rural areas to cities began and urbanism made the creation of the open and green out of the human. These spaces arose because the life of the cities was so far from nature, and the developments had damaged the natural elements on a large scale.

The possible conditions for reconciling nature and the city probably require some educational and cultural dimensions, and may encourage people who grew up and rooted in their native villages to leave the cities and return to their original environments.

Characteristics of the urban landscape

The urban landscape is the product of human intervention, which through industrialization and its consequent urbanization has modified the environment through architectural, cultural and social expressions and preferences specific to each place.

The characteristics of the urban landscape involve the preservation, restoration and creation of:

- Parks

- Natural centers

- Recreational areas

Urban landscapes should also consider maintaining and increasing the health and viability of watersheds, maintaining forested and agricultural areas, and promoting the availability of potable water.

These urban landscapes often feature manifestations of modern art,

old spaces made new, usable and accessible, the product of creativity and innovation.

Best practices include gardening and water management, maintaining your facilities through planning and design, as well as integrated pest management and plant health care.

By incorporating nature into urban areas, we not only beautify our surroundings, but create areas where we can get back in touch with nature, benefit wildlife, and provide a healthier atmosphere for generations to come.

The landscape is the mirror of the ancient and current relationships of human beings with the nature that surrounds them.

Landscapes express what connects material practices, social relations,

symbolic representations and everything that contributes to shaping a local culture.

Components of the urban landscape

The components of the landscape refers to the elements that compose and integrate it, and can be recognized by:

- Strategic nodes

- Tours

- Limits

- Points of reference

- Neighborhoods or sectors

- Streets, trails and roads

Examples of urban landscapes

Currently there are various urban landscapes in the world that can serve as an example of how human beings can make their environment a scene of enjoyment and aesthetics or, in other words, where they can coexist in harmonious symbiosis with the environment. They stand out from them:

Germany

Frankfurt offers a majestic cityscape. There, high gardens are combined with classical architectural structures, offering an exemplary landscape.

Among the buildings that stand out are the Commerzbank Tower with a spectacular architectural design that houses up to 9 gardens at different heights.

Japan

The populous city of Tokyo stands out for its tall skyscrapers under Mount Fuji, offering the world another urban wonder that confirms the possibility of harmony between man and his environment.

United Arab Emirates

A series of 33 buildings located in Dubai, some 200 meters high, make this environment one of the most outstanding urban landscapes in the world. There is the tallest building on the planet, the Burj Khalifa, with an elevation of more than 828 meters.

Colombia

Important and interesting urban landscapes stand out in Colombia such as the Botanical Garden of Medellin or the Simón Bolívar Park in Bogotá. There, Colombians and visitors have an ideal setting for meeting and leisure.

Australia

In Sydney you will find a particular form of contemporary architecture such as the Opera House and the magnificent Harbor Bridge. It is complemented by a ferry tour along the port, through which you can enjoy this wonderful view.

Malaysia

In Kuala Lumpur, a dozen buildings exceed 200 meters in the most populated area of ​​the city. There are the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world.

Singapore

Singapore's urban landscape is an important example of regulated urban planning. The city establishes regulations for a maximum height of 280 meters for skyscrapers, which gives the horizon a harmonious order despite being populated with tall structures.

United States of

An internationally known urban landscape is the one that New York City offers. Some of its iconic buildings are the Empire State Building, long the tallest in the world, or the Chrysler Building.

In addition, from the shore of Manhatan Island you can see the iconic grandeur of the Statue of Liberty.

References

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5. Pen State College of earth and mineral sciences (nd). Urban Landscapes. Recovered from e-education.psu.edu