Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Building Blocks of the Landscape

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Landscape Perspectives

Part of the book series: Landscape Series ((LAEC,volume 23))

  • 2653 Accesses

Abstract

The landscape consists of elements, components and structures forming characteristic spatial configurations at different scale levels. Many of these are material, tangible objects we call building blocks and be grouped into a physical and a cultural system that interact. In a holistic system, both groups are equally important and are studied according to hierarchically ordered scale levels. For the purpose of landscape research human settlement in the context of their territorial sphere of influence are considered the main holistic building blocks of the landscape. These are studied at three scale levels: the settlement site as a control centre, the territory where the land is organized for specific uses and the mosaics formed by settlement patterns at a geographic scale. The number of natural and cultural combinations is high, and complex typologies have been conceived for specific regional conditions. However, many common traits can be found to create generic typologies. This is illustrated with examples and well-documented case studies mainly from Europe. Spatial properties, morphology, functions and historicity are considered universal dimensions, which allow making similar applications elsewhere in the world. In a holistic approach, spatial patterns and dynamical processes in a historical perspective are needed as well. A fundamental difference can be made between settlements with ancient historical roots and more recently created settlements, which relates also to a principal distinction between traditional and new landscapes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agache, R. (1978). La Somme Pré-Romaine et Romaine (515 pp). Société des Antiquaires de Picardie: Amiens.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agger, P., & Brandt, J. (1984). Registration methods for studying the development of small scale biotope structures in rural Denmark (pp. 61–72). In Proceedings of the First International Seminar on Methodology in Landscape Ecological research and Planning, theme II, Roskilde University Centre, IALE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antrop, M. (2007). Perspectieven op het landschap (322 pp). Gent: Academia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antrop, M., & Van Eetvelde, V. (2000). Holistic aspects of suburban landscapes: Visual image interpretation and landscape metrics. Landscape and Urban Planning, 50(1–3), 43–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aston, M. (2004). Interpreting the landscape. Landscape archaeology and local history (168 pp). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aston, M., & Rowley, T. (1974). Landscape archaeology: An introduction to fieldwork techniques on post-roman landscapes. Newton Abbot: David & Charles Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, S. (1999). Landscape. In Pattern, perception and process (344p). Group: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, R. (1906). La Flandre. Étude géographique de la Plaine Flamande en France, Belgique et Hollande (pp. 530). Dunkerke: Société Dunkerquoise pour l’avancement des lettres, des sciences et des arts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloemers, J. H. F., Kars, H., van der Valk, A., & Wijnen, M. (Eds.). (2010). The Cul- tural landscape heritage paradox. Protection and development of the Dutch archaeological–historical landscape and its European dimension. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burel, F., & Baudry, J. (2000). Ecologie du paysage. Concepts, méthodes et applications (359 pp). Technique et documentation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burel, F., & Baudry, J. (2003). Landscape ecology: Concepts, methods and applications (362 pp). Enfield: Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butlin, R. A. (1993). Historical geography. Through the gates of space and time (306 pp). London: E. Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buttimer, A. (2005). Edgar Kant (1902–1978): A Baltic Pioneer, Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography, 87(3). Special Issue: The Heritage of Edgar Kant and J. G. Granö (pp. 175–192).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm, M. (1962). Rural settlement and land use. London: Hutchinson University Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christaller, W. (1933/1966). Die zentralen Orte in Süddeutschland. Jena, Gustav Fischer (C. W. Baskin, Trans.). Central Places in Southern Germany. Prentice Hall, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claval, P. (2004). The languages of rural landscapes. In: H. Palang, H. Sooväli, M. Antrop & S. Setten (Eds.), European rural landscapes: Persistence and change in a globalising environment (pp. 11–40). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clergeau, Ph. (2007). Une écologie du paysage urbain (pp 136). Rennes, Édition Apogée.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doxiadis, C. A. (1968). Ecumenopolis: Tomorrow’s city. Britannica book of the year 1968. Encyclopedia Brittanica, http://www.doxiadis.org/Downloads/ecumenopolis%20tommorow's%20city.pdf

  • Doxiadis, C. A. (1976). ACTION for human settlements. Center of Ekistics: Athens.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dussart, F. (1957). Geographie der länderlichen Siedlungsformen in Belgien und Luxemburg. Geographische Rundschau, 1, 12–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dussart, F. (1961). Les types de dessin parcellaire et leur répartition en Belgique (p. 33). Bulletin de la Societé belge d’études géographiques.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emanuelsson, U. (2009). The rural landscapes of Europe. How man has shaped European nature (pp. 383). The Swedish Research Council Formas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R., & Baudry, J. (1984). Hedgerows and hedgerow networks in landscape ecology. Environmental Management, 8–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, R., & Godron, M. (1986). Landscape ecology (619 pp). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaston, K. J. (2010). Urban ecology. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Haggett, P. (2001). Geography: A global synthesis (672 pp). New York: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haggett, P., Frey, A. E., & Cliff, A. D. (1977). Locational analysis in human geography (p. 605). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E. (1898). To-morrow: A peaceful path to real reform. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E. (1902). Garden cities of to-morrow. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/tax_keys/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman, R. H. G. (2007). Ecological networks, from concept to implementation. In S.-K. Hong, N. Nakagoshi, B. Fu, & Y. Morimoto (Eds.), Landscape ecological applications in man-influenced areas – Linking man and nature systems (p. 536). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman, R. H. G., & Pungetti, G. (2004). Ecological Networks and Greenways: Concept, Design, Implementation (p. 345). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Knaepen, R., & Antrop, M. (2003). The functional evolution of common place-settlements in the rural Kempenland of Belgium and the Netherlands. In T. Unwin & T. Spek (Eds.), European landscapes: from mountain to sea. Proceedings of the 19 th Session of the Permanent European Conference for the Study of the Rural Landscape (PECSRL) at London and Aberystwyth 10–17th September 2000 (pp. 54–62). Tallinn: Huma Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lake, J., & Edwards, B. (2006). Farmsteads and landscape: Towards an integrated view. Landscape, 7(1), 1–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larrère, R., & Nougarède, O. (1993). Des hommes et des forêts (p. 128). Paris: Découvertes Gallimard Traditions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebeau, R. (1979). Les grands types de structures agraires dans le monde (162 pp) Paris: Masson, troisième édition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mander, Ãœ., Palang, H., & Jagomägi, J. (1995). Ecological networks in Estonia. Landscape, 12(3), 27–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massot, J.-L. (1975). Maisons rurales et vie paysanne en Provence. Aix-en-Provence, Ed. SERG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, R. (1999). Approaches to landscape (310 pp). London: MacMillan Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Muir, R. (2000). The NEW reading the landscape. Fieldwork in landscape history (256 pp). Exeter: University of Exeter Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, R. (2001). Landscape detective: The landscape of Ripley. Macclesfield: Windgather Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, R. (2004). Landscape Encyclopaedia. A reference guide to the historic landscape (297 pp). Bollington: Windgather Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, R. (2005). Ancient Trees – Living Landscapes (p. 256). Stroud: Tempus Publ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemelä, J., Breuste, J. H., Guntenspergen, G., McIntyre, N. E., Elmqvist, T., & Philip James, P. (Eds.). (2011). Urban ecology: Patterns, processes, and applications (p. 392). Oxford: OUP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinchemel, P. (1970). Géographie de la France. In Tome II : les milieux : campagnes, industries et villes (295 pp). Paris: Librairie A.Colin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Correia, T., & Vos, W. (2004). Multifunctionality in Mediterranean landscapes – Past and future. In R. Jongman (Ed.), The new dimensions of the European landscape, Wageningen EU Frontis Series. Wageningen: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rackham, O. (1986). The history of the countryside (445 pp). London: Dent.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rackham, O. (1990). Trees & Woodland in the British landscape. The complete history of Britain’s trees woods & hedgerows (p. 234). London: Dent.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rackham, O. (2003). Ancient woodland: Its history, vegetation, uses in England. Colvend: Castlepoint Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rackham, O., & Moody, J. (2012). Drivers of change and the landscape history of Cavo Sidero. In T. Papayannis & P. Howard (Eds.), Reclaiming the Greek landscape (pp. 219–232). Athens: Med_INA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. (1987). The making of the English village (237 pp). London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. K., & Wrathmell, S. (2000). An atlas of the rural settlement in England (77 pp). London: English Heritage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Runnels, C. N., & van Andel, T. H. (1987, July–September). The evolution of settlement in the southern argolid, Greece: An economic explanation. Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 56(3), 303–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber, K. F. (Ed.). (1987). Connectivity in landscape ecology. In: Proceedings of the 2nd international seminar of the international association of landscape ecology. Münster, Münsterische Geographische Arbeiten 29, Schöning, Paderborn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sevenant, M., & Antrop, M. (2007). Settlement models, land use and visibility in rural landscapes: Two case studies in Greece. Landscape and Urban Planning, 80(4), 362–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tack, G., Van Den Bremt, P., & Hermy, M. (1993). Bossen van Vlaanderen. Een historische ecologie. Leuven: Davidsfonds.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsjallingii, S. (1995). Ecopolis, strategies for ecologically sound urban development (p. 108). Leiden: Backhuys Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsjallingii, S. (1996). Ecological conditions. Strategies and structures in environmental planning (320 pp). Wageningen: IBN Scientific Contributions 2. IBN-DLO, (ISBN 90-801112-3-6).

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhlig, H., & Lienau, C. (1972). Die Siedlungen des ländlichen Raumes Rural Settlements – L’Habitat Rural. Materialien zur Terminologie der Agrarlandschaft, Vol.II, Internationale Arbeitsgruppe für die geographische Terminologie in der Agrarlandschaft. Giessen: Lenz Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2010). Keys to soil taxonomy (11th edn). United States Department of agriculture – Natural resources conservation service. ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NSSC/Soil_Taxonomy/keys/2010_Keys_to_Soil_Taxonomy.pdf

  • Van Eetvelde, V., & Antrop, M. (2005). The significance of landscape relic zones in relation of soil conditions, settlement pattern and territories in Flanders. Landscape and Urban Planning., 70(1–2), 127–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Thünen, J. H. (1826). Der Isolierte Staat in Beziehung auf Landwirtschaft. Hamburg: Frederich Perthes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yorke, T. (2001). Tracing the history of villages (p. 192). Newbury: Countryside Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zonneveld, J. I. S. (1985). Levend land. De geografie van het Nederlandse landschap. Scheltema & Holkema, Utrecht/Antwerpen: Bohn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zonneveld, I. S. (1995). Land ecology (199 pp). Amsterdam: SPB Academic Publishing bv.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Marc Antrop & Veerle Van Eetvelde

Authors
  1. Marc Antrop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Veerle Van Eetvelde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Antrop, M., Van Eetvelde, V. (2017). Building Blocks of the Landscape. In: Landscape Perspectives. Landscape Series, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1183-6_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation