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Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives

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A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 23671

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nicolas Marine

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Guest Editor

Department of Architectural Composition, ETSAM Madrid School of Architecture, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: heritage management; cultural landscape; new media studies; cartography
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Dr. Cecilia Arnaiz Schmitz

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Guest Editor

Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: social-ecological systems; urban–rural gradients; land planning; simulation scenarios; landscape structure; global change; socioeconomic models
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Dr. Rodrigo De La O Cabrera

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Department of Architectural Composition, ETSAM Madrid School of Architecture, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: critical heritage; heritage management; landscape architecture; cultural landscape

Dr. David Escudero

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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

At the end of the last century, UNESCO and the Council of Europe carried out initiatives that crystallized a notion already ventured by many specialists: that the landscapes we inhabited could be conceptualized and safeguarded as a heritage asset. That is, the geographic continuum was a repository of material and immaterial remnants inherited from our collective past and it had to be protected in the same way as other cultural assets. Consequently, in the last two decades, numerous countries have re-evaluated their national planning systems and landscape conservation policies to give them a heritage focus.

During this same time, multiple ways of approaching landscape studies from a heritage perspective have emerged. Additionally, this has been both in a technological sense, which looks at new data sources, virtual tools and innovative forms of dissemination, and in a conceptual sense, which includes various agents in the valuation processes or seeks to conserve the landscape as a living cultural asset. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to reflect on contemporary approaches to landscape as heritage, paying special attention to innovative methods and positions.

We welcome both practical and theoretical contributions from a wide range of fields: heritage management, archaeology, architecture, and tourism studies, among other disciplines. We suggest the following thematic lines, although, of course, we invite authors to combine them or propose other topics:

New data sources applied to landscape heritage valorization;
New technologies for the study of landscape as heritage and new methodologies associated with them;
Landscape assessment and characterization: current challenges and practices;
Contemporary policies of landscape safeguarding with a heritage perspective;
Fostering citizen participation in valuation processes and Communication of Cultural Landscape Heritage;
Critical positions and new conceptualizations of heritage linked to the landscape;
Cultural Landscapes impact on the Economy, tourism, and the Creative Industrial Sector.

Dr. Nicolas Marine
Dr. Cecilia Arnaiz Schmitz
Dr. Rodrigo De La O Cabrera
Dr. David Escudero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 5940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reconnecting River-City: A Visibility and Accessibility Assessment of the Ping River’s View Characters in Chiang Mai City

by Janjira Sukwai and Nattasit Srinurak

Heritage 2024, 7(11), 6101-6124; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7110286 - 28 Oct 2024

Viewed by 568

Abstract

A river’s landmarks have advantages in attracting people to engage with natural/historical settings. However, uncontrolled development can have negative effects on the visual and obstruct people’s access. In this context, researchers have highlighted obstacles to these landmarks and suggested features of the relationship between the visibility and accessibility to these landmarks, aiming to preserve heritage sites. This project evaluated riverscape landmarks to develop a strategic urban design that uses scientific and spatial toolkits to maintain the historic landmark on the riverside in Chiang Mai city. The methodology utilized for GIS included visibility and accessibility assessments as variables for analyzing interconnections and classification utilizing the statistical method of hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). The findings indicate differences in the accessibility of angular step coverage (ASC) and walking distance coverage (WDC), which have an impact on landmark designation. The city-level landmarks have the highest ASC, while various religious landmarks display the highest visibility. These factors have a unique impact on the HCA results, which are categorized into six groups that are consistent with the historical content and purpose of the landmarks. The clustered groups represent the strategic design of the riverscape, which necessitates policies to enhance the potential for preserving these icons as part of the historic landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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24 pages, 6722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscapes of Watermills: A Rural Cultural Heritage Perspective in an East-Central European Context

by Alexandru Dragan, Remus Crețan and Mădălina Ionela Terian

Heritage 2024, 7(9), 4790-4813; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7090227 - 3 Sep 2024

Viewed by 968

Abstract

Recent studies in rural heritage tourism have highlighted that watermills could stand as an important part of the pre-industrial tourism heritage. We contribute to rural heritage tourism by basing our study on the perceptions of tourists and local officials on the Rudăria Watermills, Romania. Based on survey and interview data, we document the strengths and limits of local watermills for tourism and describe the entrepreneurial agents involved in path development. Our findings point to the important role played by a local NGO in developing a path for tourism for the watermills, as well as the active involvement of local authorities and other local cultural leaders in including the mills in national and international tourism circuits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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20 pages, 7414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inclusive Information Design in Heritage Landscapes: Experimental Proposals for the Archaeological Site of Tiermes, Spain

by Nieves Fernández Villalobos, Carlos Rodríguez Fernández, Sagrario Fernández Raga and Flavia Zelli

Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4403-4422; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080207 - 16 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1066

Abstract

The social recognition of cultural landscapes has increased in recent years. Culture must be accessible to all citizens, helping them to interpret the cultural landscape in the most respectful and autonomous way possible. Nevertheless, the link between accessibility and heritage requires a sensitive perception of the environment and individuals in their different situations. Usually, however, only partial solutions are offered, whereas a global, truly sustainable, and inclusive approach should be adopted. In this sense, information design can play an essential role in the enjoyment and knowledge of heritage landscapes. The aim of this article is to present some reflections on this topic, which have led a group of teachers and students from the Laboratory of Architectural, Cultural, and Heritage Landscape of the University of Valladolid (LAB/PAP) to develop experimental design proposals for the archaeological site of Tiermes, in Soria, Spain. The method applied is based on field research, case studies, project proposals, workshops, and user testing. The resulting proposals emerge from the previous research developed by the LAB/PAP. They will focus on information design to present this extraordinary site in an inclusive way. The final discussion will decide which of these proposals will be easier and more useful to implement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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33 pages, 20207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agritourism in Extremadura, Spain from the Perspective of Rural Accommodations: Characteristics and Potential Development from Agrarian Landscapes and Associated Activities

by José Manuel Sánchez-Martín, Rebeca Guillén-Peñafiel, Paloma Flores-García and María José García-Berzosa

Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4149-4181; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080195 - 1 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1127

Abstract

The boom of rural tourism in Extremadura (Spain) has been promoted by different administrations, both national and European, through multiple initiatives carried out for several decades. However, it has been developed in a generic way, ignoring the potential of agricultural landscapes for the development of agritourism as a specific variety. Therefore, this research aims to know the opinion of rural lodging owners in order to understand how the activity can be reoriented towards a more specific one, taking advantage of the potential of this type of tourist attraction. For this purpose, information has been collected through surveys to these owners. By carrying out a statistical analysis and a territorial analysis, it is possible to know their socio-demographic structure, as well as the characteristics of the accommodations and other aspects related to the activities they offer to tourists. Following the analyses, characteristics such as age, level of education and sources of income were identified, revealing a lack of knowledge of agritourism. It was also discovered that many lodgings could offer agritourism activities due to the presence of farms and attractive landscapes for tourists. However, there was a lack of activities related to agriculture and livestock, which represents a missed opportunity for the development of agritourism. The territorial analysis showed patterns of activity supply in certain areas, suggesting the possibility of promoting the sustainable development of rural areas through the diversification of tourism activities. Perhaps the main conclusion that can be drawn is the need to take advantage of the attractive landscape and the presence of activity companies to promote the economic and social development of rural areas, contributing to the conservation of traditions and the fight against depopulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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22 pages, 11648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Townscape in Evolution: Caño Roto Modern Heritage, 1957–2023

by Angel Cordero Ampuero, Manuela Gil Manso and Marta Muñoz

Heritage 2024, 7(5), 2348-2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7050111 - 1 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1046

Abstract

Caño Roto (Madrid) is one of the most relevant Spanish post-war architectures. Its typological contributions have already been studied within the framework of the so-called “Led Settlements”. This paper proposes a systematic analysis of the evolution of the neighborhood townscape, its most singular characteristic as a critical approach to the CIAM city project. It starts with the photographic documentation, studied through the methodology established by Gordon Cullen and developed, in a systematic way, by Nigel Taylor. The comparative study includes the original published photographs, a sample of photographs from the 2010s, and the shots taken in a new exhaustive documentation campaign. The comparison yields relevant results on the evolution of urban space definers: building volumes, facade composition, pavements or vegetation, and the presence of people in public areas. Several paths are studied to allow an understanding of the overall landscape structure. As a result, the key elements of the townscape of the settlement are identified and valued. The aim of this paper is to provide tools for the preservation of both the architectural and landscape heritage of Caño Roto. In short, thorough knowledge will help residents to become aware of the heritage value of their neighborhood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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32 pages, 6164 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Dialogue between the Humanities and Social Sciences: Cultural Landscapes and Their Transformative Potential for Social Innovation

by Diamantis Panagiotopoulos, Fabienne Wallenwein, Georg Mildenberger and Gudrun-Christine Schimpf

Heritage 2023, 6(12), 7674-7705; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6120404 - 14 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5228

Abstract

Throughout the last decades, engaging with cultural landscapes has been a scientific, social, ethical, political, and economic imperative that calls for novel theoretical approaches, effective strategies and, above all, participatory action. Facing this multifarious challenge, academic disciplines have to redefine their traditional methods and aims, and demonstrate an openness towards new and risky paths of scientific pursuits. The present paper arose from interdisciplinary cooperation between the humanities and social sciences with the main objective to explore the potential of cultural landscapes as resources for social innovation in rural regions, addressing issues such as out-migration of original inhabitants, unemployment, and an overaging population. Based on an overview of landscape semantics and theoretical approaches, the paper first analyzes (cultural) landscape and social innovation as applied concepts. In a second step, both disciplinary angles mingle into a joint approach. Moving from methodologies to challenges, the authors discuss the Social Grid Model, which allows for an integrated analysis of social networks, institutions, and cognitive frames. They also delve into the Structured Democratic Dialogue as a tool for the revitalization of ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ cultural landscapes by reinforcing the role of local communities. Finally, the authors investigate how such novel ideas for the promotion of tangible and intangible heritage in rural habitats can be employed by example of two intervention regions in Greece (Koumasa) and the People’s Republic of China (Honghe Hani Rice Terraces), and as part of an orchestrated collective action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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22 pages, 3616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transimperial Eyes: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Colonial Narratives about the Dutch Expedition to Southern Chile (1643)

by Aurora Sambolín Santiago, Hugo Romero-Toledo and Matthias Gloël

Heritage 2023, 6(12), 7589-7610; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6120399 - 8 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2213

Abstract

The review of historical archives that allow us to know the observations and experiences of those who recorded scarcely explored territories in the past, especially in the context of European colonization of vast areas of the world in the seventeenth century is crucial for heritage studies. The following article analyzes how the Dutch expedition to southern Chile during the 17th century (1642–1643) was narrated, both in Dutch and in its translations into German, English, and Spanish, considering the interests of empires and the discursive differences that translational variations reveal. This transdisciplinary analysis, combining historiography, translation studies, and historical geography, consists of a critical reading of the original narration and a comparative reading of the aforementioned translations, and within them ethnographic representations made about the Mapuche-Huilliche people and the city of Valdivia and changes introduced by different translations are identified. These changes are then related to imperial contexts and discourses that shape these translations. In terms of our findings, we note that, in general, Chilean translations tend to exaggerate the representations of indigenous people as barbaric, inferior, and uncivilized. These representations are present in the European versions, but the shifts that we identified indicate an intensification of this discourse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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21 pages, 14074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Networked Heritage Management in the Lower Guadalquivir (Spain)

by Marina López Sánchez and Cristina Vicente Gilabert

Heritage 2023, 6(10), 6822-6842; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6100356 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

This paper describes the operations carried out to generate a georeferenced heritage inventory at a supra-municipal scale. The tool establishes links between its heritage elements based on the features and characteristics of the territory. The work has been carried out on the fluvial zone of the Lower Guadalquivir, an area of approximately 8500 km² located in Andalusia in the south of Spain. The method used is based on the digital inventory of the Andalusian immovable historical heritage generated by the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage, in which more than 500 heritage assets in the study area are indexed. The work begins with the expansion and processing of these assets with the aim of reorganizing them and establishing new parameters in their classification schemes. Subsequently, a spatial analysis developed in a GIS environment detects relationships between heritage assets determined by the physical characteristics of the territory. These relationships are contrasted by historical research, and eight heritage networks in the territory are defined as a result. Finally, one of the networks is used to show how, from the graph theory, it is possible to investigate the detected links. Ultimately, it is discussed how this study allows us to move toward new models of the heritage management of territorial dimension and relational vocation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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31 pages, 33689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Environment of Disappeared Heritage: Graphic Analysis of Puerta Real in Seville

by Antonio Gámiz-Gordo, Daniel Antón and Pedro Barrero-Ortega

Heritage 2023, 6(7), 5469-5499; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6070288 - 18 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3192

Abstract

The city of Seville experienced a remarkable rise in the 16th century thanks to trade with America. Based on a report by the architect Hernán Ruiz, it was decided to renovate the gates of the walled city. The Puerta Real, also called Puerta de Goles, was remodelled between 1560 and 1566, and King Philip II entered through it in 1570. However, it was demolished around 1864, and only the remains of the adjacent wall stand today. This research aims to graphically analyse the gate and its immediate surroundings to gain a more profound knowledge of it and to promote its heritage value. To this end, an extensive collection and analysis of historical images has been carried out, which are essential for understanding the transformations of the site. A photograph by Masson (c. 1855–1860) was next used to support the virtual reconstruction of the gate. A 3D laser scanner was also used to document the existing archaeological remains and, via game-engine technology, to recreate rigorously, for the first time, this 16th-century gate in its current environment. This research could be useful for future scientific reconstruction to promote the heritage revitalisation of this city area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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27 pages, 2883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intangible Heritage of the Dehesa: The Educational and Tourist Potential of Traditional Trades

by Rebeca Guillén-Peñafiel, Ana María Hernández-Carretero and José Manuel Sánchez-Martín

Heritage 2023, 6(7), 5347-5373; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6070282 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1732

Abstract

Dehesas constitute one of the most relevant and traditional landscapes of the Extremadura region. However, the supremacy given to the economic–productive functionality of agricultural territories over environmental and cultural sustainability leads to the devaluation and neglect of the heritage manifestations of the rural world. Based on this premise, this study aimed to understand the current situation of some of the traditional trades of the Extremadura pasture, assessing the benefits of their conservation and determining the possible threats that hinder their preservation. In addition, it sought to articulate a proposal for solutions aimed at safeguarding them. To this end, the Delphi method was used, and 20 experts were interviewed in depth, mainly cork and charcoal extractors. The results corroborate the existence of various problems faced by the traditional trades, which compromise the conservation of the identity of the rural population and the sustainability of the dehesa. To mitigate these tensions, it was concluded that there is a need to disseminate the heritage of the dehesa through educational and agrotourism experiences to promote an increase in tourist awareness, revalue ancestral knowledge, and contribute to the conservation of intangible assets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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21 pages, 30044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Documentation and Virtualisation of Vernacular Cultural Heritage: The Case of Underground Wine Cellars in Atauta (Soria)

by Tomás Ramón Herrero-Tejedor, Miguel Ángel Maté-González, Enrique Pérez-Martín, Serafín López-Cuervo, Juan López de Herrera, Luis Javier Sánchez-Aparicio and Paula Villanueva Llauradó

Heritage 2023, 6(7), 5130-5150; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6070273 - 5 Jul 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

The cultural heritage associated with rural systems is extremely valuable and is a sign of identity for cultures that are disappearing or undergoing transformation. This paper explains and illustrates the series of procedures that have been carried out to document and subsequently virtualise the ethnological site of the “El Plantío” underground wine cellars in Atauta. The ensembles of underground wine cellars are located immediately outside the village of Atauta, from which they are separated by the stream of Arroyo de la Laguna or Golbán, thus giving rise to two environments that are characterised by the perfect interrelation between their natural and architectural heritage. The visual and scenic relations between both these elements make this area a prime example of a cultural heritage that is associated with wine production systems. This documentation was obtained through a combination of different geomatic techniques. The results are organised on a web platform to enable their digital visualisation (2D/3D). This platform provides a virtual environment such that users can understand these underground heritage assets in an integrated way together with the immaterial cultural heritage and the cultural landscape—all of which converge on this ethnological site. The project offers different types of audiences, both real and virtual, access to all of the documentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscapes as Cultural Heritage: Contemporary Perspectives)

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