Equal Space in Landscapes and Age: Contemporary Practices and Historical Architects

This essay covers the issue of equal space in context landscapes and age. It highlights two contemporary landscapes practices which work is in the field of solving the issue. In addition to that, it assesses two historical architects and movements.

Essay

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Age equality is termed as state of being equal which comprises people of same age or
particular range of ages. When people of all ages are treated fairly and equally, it improves work
environment. Through creating age equality workplaces, architects encourage inclusive addition
to productive work culture for creating landscapes. It also fosters creative together with forward
thinking ideas. Issue of equal space is challenge faced by traditional architectures as they were
incapable because of limited project budgets, competitions, etc to create landscapes which helps
in promoting diversity in age or gender. Things or factors that restricted traditional architectures
includes longer process of constructing landscapes, expensive material and labour along with
less professional talents. It is being argued by Tung and Stahl (2018) that in every society,
women are creators along with consumers of culture, however, they face barriers which prevent
them to perform equal role in cultural sphere (Tung and Stahl, 2018). People in traditional times
were not aware about making environments that are user friendly and created in form that
welcomes everyone of any size, age and ability (Wang, Yung and Sun, 2022). But with evolution
in architecture the needs of contemporary landscapes arise. Contemporary landscapes are
commitment to provide an environment which is free from any obstacles and provide more co
operations between developers and those who will utilise it. It is advantageous as it is accessible
for all so that it will add in its value. It is considered as cost effective and aesthetically planned
approach which will attract every people attention.
This essay covers the issue of equal space in context landscapes and age. It highlights two
contemporary landscapes practices which work is in the field of solving the issue. In addition to
that, it assesses two historical architects and movements. It puts emphasis on how spaces have
evolved to consider children more centrally in design.
MAIN BODY
The issue of equal space is one of the major challenge faced by traditional landscapes.
Several social, political and economic drivers as well as forces shapes landscapes and its form.
The arrangements of buildings indicate and strengthen current issues of age in relation to space
which is socially constructed through social exchanges, images, memories as well as day to day
use of material setting by people of all ages and equal to all. The behavioural patterns within
landscapes have been involving culturally and are more accepted as equal space for all. Several
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researches emphasis on making neighbourhood which can provide great environmental
landscapes where children can prosperous and old age people can enjoy their time in leisure.
Efforts have been taken to prioritise age to reduce issues of equal space within contemporary
landscapes (Newton, 2022). Architects are motivated and entrusted with an almost impossible
task of designing spaces which are open for all and satisfy needs of every individual. The issue
of equal spaces for all can be solved by having open perception about one's immediate
environment. In order to create a bond between children and contemporary landscapes, they must
be allowed to cognitively alert to macro stimuli by active movement. Therefore, landscapes must
involve intrinsic qualities for example, elements of surprise, opportunity and adventure so that
people of any age group can show more potential to explore their senses and affirmatively
enhances perceptions of spaces.
One of the practice of contemporary landscape is given by Jan Gehl, who is a Danish
architect and urban design consultant. Gehl focuses on improving quality of urban life by making
unique features in landscapes (Gehl, 2020). Team of Gehl believes that they cross the work fields
of architecture, urban planning, landscapes design and city planning for all the people
irrespective of their age or gender. They focus on building environment which improves
individual’s life quality. Gehl believed that there were lack of proper knowledge about how to
create buildings and space which are equal for all as well as which people wants to inhabit. Gehl
also writes books and published his first influential book “Life Between Buildings” in 1971.
Further, the Gehl also tend to give the concept of the built environment which tend to touches all
aspects of our lives, encompassing the buildings we live in, the distribution systems that provide
with water and electricity, and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from
place to place. Thus, the Gehl gives a sensible and straightforward approach to improve urban
landscapes by systematically documenting spaces which are equal for all and implementing step-
by-step incremental modifications then document them again. Further, it also emphasis on the
urban design approach that tend carries with it fundamental principles and responses to human
behaviours, provides a process and conceptual framework for implementing those principles, and
allows more expansive use of the tools that urban design brings to a physical planning challenge.
Jan Gehl took on the project of Vienna which was destroyed in 1809 when Napoleon
occupied the city. The Ringstrasses is an important part of Vienna and displays what the city
offers in terms of culture and education. Team of Jan Gehl wishes to former splendour of
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Ringstrasse by creating a public space which will be equal for all as well as responds to the
grandness of building lining it. Re-instating principles of design for street plants, pavements,
light rail stops and crossings which cover entire length of Ringtrasse can result in celebrating
street as place which is open for all and promotes equal-ism (Shaebani and Sharepour, 2022).
Their main focus is one areas between buildings and tramlines which will provide elegant
interface between street of Vienna and spectacular buildings. Gehl suggested that the in between
area can be utilised for new open and equal foyer space which will promote genderism and age
landscapes. Genderism could be said to systematic belief which people require to conform to
gender assigned at birth in gender binary system. While, age landscape is said to a picture that
represents view of natural inland scenery for population belonging to all ages. There are
landscape, for example, salt marshes, rivers, agrarian, etc that appeals to people of all ages as
they seek for active promoting of equality that includes particular actions for empower male and
female of different ages in communities and societies together with wider political and planning
processes.
The team of Gehl believed that Ringstrasse can again become a place for people to meet,
children to play and open to all genders irrespective of the differences in age group. Thus, Gehl's
use of development and methods to analyse human built environment interactions have been an
essential part of equal space contemporary landscapes development.
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Gehl's method of architecture is continuous and systemic observation of how people can
have equal spaces. Gehl's theory of development revolves around existing issues of equal space
in order to implement improvements and reinstate area as process of iterative. Gehl projects are
designed for equity by making people visible through public life data which will enable effective
strategies, planning, decision making and designing. They consider that connecting humans to
opportunities and programmed designs solutions which can be both affordable and encourage
equal space. Gehl's project ensures convenience, inclusion, forward social quality and diversity
by interacting with people. They co create urban landscapes as well design new spaces and
neighbourhood so that people from all age group and gender can take benefit from it (Høghøj,
2019). The project team of Gehl is constantly striving to make cities liveable for all and provide
people the freedom of choice in accordance to mobility. They try to cover the daily needs of
people as where they can walk, can ride bicycle and take public transport and for that reason the
team is trying to make the city more compact. Designs of Gehl are based on creating landscapes
which are diverse, safe, lively, healthy and safe that improves quality of people. The designs of
Gehl which makes space equal is the activities that extend people to use space for own use that is
walking, performing everyday tasks and so on. It is claimed by Gehl that the practices would
occur in each kind of weather as well as yearlong as children or elders have no choices rather to
engage in categories of necessary activities. Also, designs of Gehl which makes spaces equal
includes social activities wherein people belonging to all ages animate public spaces. Thus
emerge as population of all ages congregate in a landscape addition to socialise. These are
conditioned with public setting of spaces (A Field Guide to Public Spaces, 2022).
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Next practise of contemporary landscape is Gustafson Guthrie Nichol which is based in
Seattle and founded by people in group namely Kathryn Gustafon, Jennifer Guthrie and Shannon
Nicole. It designs are made by professional people who have background in contemporary
landscapes, architecture and modern engineering. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol offers special
experience in creating high use landscapes in complex in urban contexts. Their landscapes are
broadly diverse but share qualities as equal space and healthy setting for variedness. In this way,
it creates landscapes which are serenely grounded and at same time make people feel alive and
comfortable. In specific, the designs of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol do this through expressing
sculptural attributes of contextual landscape. It offers special experience in designing high-use
landscapes in complex and urban contexts. With the help of surveys, it can be possible to
conduct research that show the ways people feel at these spaces. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
mission is to achieve diverse community which are curious, creative and collaborative (Way and
Et. Al., 2018). The project enjoys continuous learning and solving issues of equal space by
implementing open minded listening, extensive research and tested methods. Gustafson Guthrie
Nichol believes that contemporary landscapes architecture is an innovative, creative and
beautiful combination of art, functions science and equity. They make their work in a way that
excites and inspires others and at same time creatively supports equality and respect for
communities. They follows the culture of open, critical design dialogue surrounded by objective
design qualities, clarity of concepts, aesthetics, harmony, expression and language from rationale
linked with concept and expressions.
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Each member within Gustafson Guthrie Nichol brings in distinct expertise and unique
skill set as well as share core set of values and traits which guides their way of working in
harmony. The project shares the passion of connecting individual of all age group and gender at
one place to the authentic nature and to rich cultural experiences of each place. Team believes
that when people connect at local landscapes they also connect with each other which promotes
harmony within all age group. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol respects, reckons and share unique
qualities which exists at ground sites before implementing new notions (Gastil, 2021). They
repair and endow historic ecologies, vernacular patterns and natural systems in landscapes before
replacing them. They took on designing with proper coordination with community members of
each place and special focus on vulnerable members of community. Involving community in
design process so important for designing equal spaces as it gives required level of confidence
when needed the most. Community engagement in designing equal spaces provides architects
with huge opportunities for genuinely collaborative work.
One of such project undertook by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol is India Basin Shoreline
Park which is located in Bayview Hunters Point of San Franscisco. The park provides unique
opportunities to people to create connections (Kar, Phukan and Baruah, 2022). Further, it has
been also seen and implicated that the Seattle-based Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) will
design Shoreline Parks and it would tend to be based on the concept of equal space landscape
that tend to includes of the 900 Innes along the India Basin coastline. Further, an implication and
review of the how these are adapted within the contemporary examples of GGN has been also
provided as the GGN was awarded the commission after coming first in the design ideas
competition put forward by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and the Trust for
Public Land, in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The historic character of park
is preserved by restoration of Shipwright's Cottage and salvaging a materials and artefacts of
boatyards. The aspects of designs which creates places for different ages includes line, color,
shape, space, typography, maintenance and cost. For examples, space is at the time when a line
crosses itself or intersects with other lines for creating enclosed place. It could be seen in nature,
for example, leaved, seashells or flowers. This provides a large lawn for active play for children
and for group gatherings of old age people. This project is nestled with native landscapes of
upland sage slopes, planting at shorelines and marsh. A long garden and shore walk walkway
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traces the shoreline of history to form a neighbourhood edge. As the young all creatures cannot
remain quiet in their bodies thus they always feel the need to move out and play. For children,
their freedom of movement is considered as their opportunity to play.
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India Basin Shoreline Park provides huge space and permission to actively play so that
they can be themselves. The park provides public space where locals can share contacts and
trust, integrate communities and learn to live with people of different age and gender. Providing
better space for aged people results in more mobility and stamina (Chakraborty and Et. Al.,
2021). The park contains number of toilets so that older people do not have to walk far to use it.
These also includes slip resistant flooring, both vertical and horizontal door pulls so that the door
will be close after entering. Toilets locks are designed in such a way that they are easy to use and
lock so that both children as well as older people can use it access it effectively (Ryan, 2022).
They are filled confidence when provided with space that ensures their needs are considered.
Taps and facilities of drying are reachable to every people and even special washing area has
been made for wheelchair users. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol ensures that they improve access of
entry so that it can be achievable by everyone. It uses tactile surfacing and colour contrasting
stairs to warn those people who are visually impaired so that they can effectively approach stairs.
It ensures that access ramp is designed in line with park regulations and that its location is easily
placeable to people who are visiting it for the first time.
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The positioning of signs in park are designed in such a way that can be seen and read by
anyone as the architecture realised that this is the crucial part of any landscape. Signs use plain
and simple languages which is clear, large and concise. The park has also eating area who ensure
that people who needed to eat regularly do not face any problem. It involves provision of tables
which facilities wheelchair users to reach to their food comfortably. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
realised that forming communities which are both active and healthy allows people of all age to
relax, socially interact and utilise recreation which is organised. Thus, India Basin Shoreline Park
pay extensive attention to accessibility in context to leisure and entertainment by forming
applications. The contemporary landscapes practices undertook by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
creates national grants for design research so that they can provide spaces which are both
sustainable in nature and provide equal access as well as opportunities to people of all age. They
believe that landscapes with this intention can resolve the issues of unequal space and will not
help diversity to thrive. Some extent of idea is to playful objects which can encourage children to
spend more time outside. As the place was open for all, children and their parents gets the social
contacts with their friends in a contemporary landscape.
Historical movement are considered as those which aims at controlling the process of
development of history. Whereas, historic designed landscapes are those which were consciously
designed by landscape architect, master gardener or horticulturists as per principles of design or
in recognised design or tradition. Traditionally, historical preservation efforts dealt with
landscape as an accessory to major buildings, thus architect came to realise that historic
landscapes comprise more than simple embellishment of architecture. Moreover, historic
landscapes embrace a huge and complex gathering of interrelated cultural and natural facets
which forms vital fabric for several historic sites, distant neighbourhood, societies and regions.
Daniel Burnham believed that an improved landscape could provide a positive transformative
experience for inhabitants of all ages. As per Daniel, every citizen must be able to walk to public
parks or landscape. The architect has focused on key aspects that are systematic arrangement of
streets for all ages, civic and cultural centers. The list of plan for infrastructure improvements
was required through rapid growing city, at a duration when expanding taxation made it possible
for undertaking larger projects. With improved infrastructure of landscapes, the architect has
provides equal spaces for all ages.
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Renaissance utilised some significant themes such as humanism, secularism,
individualism, virtu and rationalism. Humanism puts more importance on critical understanding
of the Greek and roman classics to better comprehend nature of humans and brings in new era of
achievement in intellectuality. Renaissance is compared to rebirth, which was implied into study
of renewed interest. Secularism was an intensity on value of things which are wordily may not
necessarily put on religious things and also not ant religious. For instance, art, emphasis on self
and things designed for entertainment rather than for anti-religious purposes. Individualism was
interlinked with both individualism and humanism. They were interconnected to the fields of
arts. It was believed that individuals always strive to stand out when it came to painting and
architecture (Helms, 2020). Leonardo da Vinci was reckoned as ultimate man of Renaissance. He
is ainly known for producing the art of Mona Lisa, da Vinci was dubbed as quintessential
Renaissance man in his entire lifetime. Virtu was about people being their highest they can be,
tends to do as many things as they can and adopting behaviours which shows high standards of
morals. Lastly, rationalism was about aiming on proof, logic and starting of science in routine
lives. It is associated with introduction of mathematical measures in philosophy at that certain
period. It is a belief that people came to knowledge by use of logics and independent of sensory
experiences.
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The era of Renaissance was called as “the world lit on fire” by Manchester. Due to this
historic movement, curiosity was sparked and each exploration only result in burn brighter.
There were number of scientific and artist revelation during the era of renaissance. New religions
rise and uncharted regions took place. The development of Renaissance Era transformed the
course of art in measures that continues to resonate. Artists who have interest in humanism
changed from an anonymous craftsman to an individual practising pursuit of intellectual (Spitz,
2021). In addition to that, scientific observations and classical studies contributed to realistic
representation of human figure in history of art. The Renaissance lasted for four centuries and its
period came to end by 1527 which is after more than 35 years of popularity that aid in marking
the true conclusion of the Renaissance as unified historical period of movement.
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One of the historical landscapes architects is Frederick Law Olmsted who was an
American landscape architect, social critic, journalist and public administrator. He is reckoned as
father of architecture landscape. Olmsted was highly famous for co designing several well
known urban parks along with his partner Calvert Vaux. Their first project together was Central
Park which formed basis for other park designs comprising Prospect Park in city of Brooklyn
and Cadwalader park in Trenton. Olmsted was the head of prominent landscapes architecture and
planning consultancy in late 19th century in America. He designed hundreds of parks coast to
coast. It was until age 43 that he took landscape architecture as a profession. Initially, he was a
farmer, an investigative journalist for The New York times, first executive secretary of U.S
Sanitary Commission, proponent of national parks and conservationist. Olmsted believed that
parks should be enjoyable and safe, free from any distraction and presents calm scenery in order
to aid in unbinding stress from humans (Olmsted, 2020). He saw parks as place of gatherings for
all walks of life, place where every individual was on same foot so that they can enjoy and
passive recreation. Olmsted designed Central Park with objective to direct visitors to stroll
through the park as well as quietly admire natural scenery. It addresses recreational requirements
of people of all ages belonging to rapidly growing city. Olmsted preferred to better the lives of
all city dwellers by introducing nature for wider population. It is a romantic conviction that being
surrounded by nature assuaged the nerves and mind and helped "unbend" certain physical and
psychological tensions. To people of all ages, Central Park give them the experience of being in
the countryside without ever having to leave the heart of the city.
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Frederick Law Olmsted was an innovator, author, city planner and public official as well
as known as Father of Landscapes Architecture whose remarkable designs have transformed the
landscapes of America. Olmsted understood that thoughtful planning and design of public spaces
as well as parks have powerful environmental, social, health and economical affect on lives of
communities and people.
The American Landscape in itself was the source of Olmsted's earliest lessons in
aesthetics but that impact was supported by the writings of English landscape gardeners,
travellers and theorists of landscape art. The wish to utilise landscape art to fulfil deep needs of
humans, coupled with convention led Olmsted to take on entire series of design principles. The
professional gardener who influenced Olmsted mostly was Humphrey Repton whose sketches
and clues on landscapes gardening as well as theory and practice of landscapes gardening were
published in 1795 and 1803 respectively. Olmsted faced the issue of rapidly urbanising country
and governments that choose to turned a blind eye to health of public. He reckons a link between
appropriate health environment and public health. This is great context motivated his design of
urban parks (Stevenson, 2018). Olmsted believed that parks were not only pretty places but also
provides an antidote to poor health and urbanisation. Olmsted vision of landscape architecture is
still relevant in today's world as he saw broad intersection of social, environmental and civic
wellbeing. Olmsted developed a classifiable approach of design which represents the
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understanding of his vision, his newness of conception which he brought to each commission
and the imagination with which he dealt with even the smallest of details.
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CONCLUSION
From the information presented above, it has been concluded that issue of equal space is
obviating people from sharing same landscapes. There are landscapes which are either good for
children or for older people. Thus it become important for contemporary landscapes to involve
more sustainable planning. In order to help people in swift processing of planning and creating
regulations, architecture needs to be aware of their needs from the beginning process to plan
accessible landscapes. Two such contemporary practices are undertook by Jan Gehl and
Gustafson Guthrie Nichol who in their own ways strives to achieve a world with more good
landscapes which promotes concept of equal space and do not discriminate on basis of age,
gender or any disability. This is also being reckoned by understanding historical landscapes
architects and movements. The movement of Renaissance revive and surpass ideas as well as
achievements of classical antiquity. The architect, Frederick Law Olmsted was a great American
landscape architect who designed many urban parks addressing issue of social, environmental
and cultural.
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