On March 4th I will be talking at the University of Aarhus about “Designing large-scale landscapes through walking”. Stefan Darlan Boris, who is training his students to walk, understand and design landscapes invited me to present the results of my research and my experiences with the projects of Stein+Schultz. 
Can´t get enough of rereading Tim Ingold.
“In a world of becoming, however, even the ordinary, the mundane or the intuitive gives cause for astonishment – the kind of astonishment that comes from treasuring every moment, as if, in that moment, we were encountering the world for the first time, sensing its pulse, marvelling at its beauty, and wondering how such a world is possible. Reanimating the western tradition of thought, I argue, means recovering the sense of astonishment banished from official science” (INGOLD 2011:64).
“Experiments help to establish a culture of innovation”, said Jack Ahern when presenting his thoughts on urban resilience strategies (biodiversity, connectivity, multifunctionality, redundancy and modularity, and adaptive design). Ahern proposed to conceive experiments in order to foster a culture of innovation. They are a way to learn to act with uncertainty. Learning by designing is also a principle of Research through design. Sanda Lenzholzer said that all design activities that generate new knowledge can be research through designing and discussed examples for a postpositivistic type of RTD. Henrik Schultz presented walking as a form of research through design. Walking supports the interplay of perception, creation and reflection while engaging with and changing the object of research. Walking is also a chance to let landscape shape us. Mick Abbott from Lincoln University, New Zealand defines landscape as something enfolding and said in his talk: “There is not only the question if and how we shape the landscape but how landscape can shape us”. The title of this year´s ECLAS Conference was “Landscape: A place of cultivation”. Abbott´s definition makes it worth rethinking the title. Wouldn´t Landscape: A process of cultivation” be much more suitable?
Find an article on walking and designing in the new issue of Journal of Landscape Architecture (JoLA): http://www.jola-lab.eu/www/issue-2-2014.html
Here is an abstract:
The simple act of walking stimulates the complex, iterative process of landscape design. It supports and integrates engagement (intensively perceiving space), flow (encouraging intuition), and reflection (supporting organization). In the rhythmic, often strenuous act of walking, designers can change the landscape, as well as generate knowledge and ideas. Walking therefore has the potential to become a method for large-scale landscape design. Additionally, because perception, creative action, and reflection come together in the process of walking, it becomes an important practice of research through design. Walkers can generate knowledge, exchange ideas, and discuss their experiences with other walkers of different professional backgrounds. The article begins by describing the key processes of large-scale landscape design and research. After that, the author develops three characteristic walking modes: the ‘discovery mode’, the ‘flow mode’ and the ‘reflective mode’. Finally, a framework for a method of ‘walking in large-scale landscape design’ is laid out. The findings are based on the author´s research on walking, his experiences with projects at Stein+Schultz, and by taking approximately 100 walks in areas such as, the Swiss Alps, Scottish Highlands, parts of Patagonia, and in larges cities, like Berlin and London.
Henrik Schultz contributes to the conference “Relational landscape studies of urbanisation”, 12–14 June 2014 at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden. He will discuss methods to find strategies for Munich´s urban fringe, presenting the design study “spatial vision for the periphery of Munich”. Three elements were crucial for the design process: First, the team explored the area by walking it to trace spatial identities. Second, they drew images based on the atmospheres and spatial identities. Thirdly, stories showcased scenarios of future use. The images and texts worked as a communication basis for local and regional stakeholders.
See conference programme: http://landscapestudies.se/conference/programme.html
Wandern. Erfahrungen mit Landschaft in Transformation.
Landschaften verändern sich permanent. Im Wechsel der Jahreszeiten, durch Wachstums- und Schrumpfungsprozesse, aber auch durch unsere Bewegung, unsere Wahrnehmung und unser Handeln. Wie können wir Gegenden als landschaftliches Geschehen wahrnehmen, sie verstehen und entwerfen? Henrik Schultz zeigt in seinem Vortrag anhand aktueller Forschungen und konkreter Praxisprojekte seines Büros Stein+Schultz, wie landschaftliche Transformationsprozesse entworfen werden können. Im Zentrum stehen drei Methoden: Erstens kann Wandern ein erfinderischer Prozess sein, bei dem im Wechselspiel aus Entdecken, Flow und Reflektieren Ideen für Landschaften entstehen. Zweitens kann die Arbeit mit Metaphern die Verständigung über räumliche Besonderheiten erleichtern und zu neuen Bildern führen. Und drittens helfen Geschichten den Fokus auf Akteure zu richten, die Eigenschaften, Atmosphären und Zusammenhänge der Landschaften wahrnehmen, nutzen und verändern. Alle drei Methoden sind darauf angelegt, erfinderisch Verbindungen zwischen sich wandelnden Raumelementen herzustellen, Motoren der Veränderung zu identifizieren und zu nutzen sowie sich mit Experten unterschiedlicher Professionen und engagierten Laien über mögliche Zukünfte von Landschaften auszutauschen.
For details see:
http://www.dggl.org/landesverbaende/baden-wuerttemberg/aktuelle-termine.html
In his fascinating book “Being alive”, Tim Ingold distinguishes between the network of transport and the meshwork of wayfaring and says that wayfaring is our most fundamental mode of being in the world. “To the wayfarer, however, the world is not presented as a surface to be traversed. In his movements he threads his way through this world rather than routing across it from point to point” (INGOLD 2011: 151).
“How to make cities better places for pedestrians?” – most of the discussions centered on this question. There was research on pedestrian safety, ideas for campaigns to promote walking and manuals of how to improve conditions for walkers. Prof. Merk presented designs for the inner city that will make Munich a better place to walk. Prof. Thanos Vlastos pointed out, that walking is the way to incorporate with the social life and to participate. Many other experts from different backgrounds presented data and ideas for walkers.
My feeling is that everybody tries very hard to make plans, to draw up agendas and to implement goals in strategic planning and decision making processes. Fair enough – all very important points. But why do only few of these passionate lobbyists use walking as a method to perceive and change the world? Every walker knows the “wonder” of walking: While moving and connecting views, perspectives, feelings and places, he or she gets new perspectives, sees things from different angles or in a different light. The scenery becomes a spectacle in which the permanently moving walker plays a role. Especially on longer walks phases of flow helps us to open up for new ideas. And who does not like a good talk on a long walk?
Walking is an act of movement, perception and creativity and deeply rooted in our history. Now we fight for better walking environments but we forget to experiment with walking again and to let the creative potential unfold. Walking together is the best way to exchange perceptions and to discuss ideas for the future of our cities.
One of the presenters I listen to demonstrated the power of walking with people. Dimitra Kanellopoulou walks with people, talks with them, draws maps and invents stories. A very inspiriting research!
A conference on walking! I expected hundreds of landscape architects attending the workshops and presenting ideas for open space designs and cooperative planning processes using walking as method to perceive and change the urban Geschehen.
Where were you? Don´t leave this large field of action and research to traffic planners and urban sociologists!
Walk21 Munich
