C/A/11. Landscape: changing perceptions and reality since 1950

The essay looks at changes which have occurred in the landscape and its architecture since 1950. It suggests that landscapes hold great psychological value for those who observe and experience them. This is reflected in the choice of examples - such as the work of Le Corbusier, and the examples of Britain's coast. These examples aim to epitomise the decade of culture from which they were born. Furthermore, they aim to show how a landscape can help to facilitate human understanding of their place in the world - whether through silent contemplation or active enjoyment. The use of the 1980's project in Bath where a Georgian garden was excavated and restored is used to illustrate the beginning of a trend, which has become increasingly popular today - seen in programmes such as TimeTeam. Although excavation and landscape history have always been an important part of the UK's academic framework, this paper suggests that since the eighties it has became more integral due to the rapid rate of urban development. Such development has encouraged people to value the presence of open and hidden spaces, perhaps encouraging land and space to be increasingly seen as a commodity.