The representation of time: addressing a theoretical flaw in landscape architecture

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the representation of time within landscape architecture. While change is an everyday part of landscape, the lack of a theoretical framework or accepted best practice for the representation of time arguably affects landscape architecture’s position in today’s society, where flexibility and dynamics are key. The representation of time was explored in a ‘design experiment’ with landscape architecture students using the case of Højstrup Parken. Rather than producing one optimum proposal, the experiment revealed different ways of integrating time into traditional drawing types, while new drawing types allowed other sophisticated representations. Some are of relevance for competition entries, others for technical drawings or management prescriptions, and others for user involvement. We conclude that the introduction of temporal representations in addition to spatial representations in the taxonomical system for representation could enrich understanding of the landscape, assessment of existing landscape designs, and the creation of new designs.

KEYWORDS:

• C. Th. Sørensen
• design experiment
• drawing
• research by design
• vegetation dynamics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark [The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource].