IJESD 2017 Vol.8(3): 174-181 ISSN: 2010-0264
doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2017.8.3.942
doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2017.8.3.942
Landscape Restoration and Rehabilitation: A Geocultural Design Approach
Lino Bianco
Abstract—The visual impact of open-pit mineral workings
along sloping terrain generates conspicuous scars extending to
the surrounding landscape. Such irreversible developments
permanently alter the original landform. This is more
pronounced in areas of high landscape value. The aim of this
paper is to put forward the case for a contextual design of a
restoration scheme grounded in the geophysical and cultural
elements making up the landscape character and thus
complimenting it. This is demonstrated through a case study of
Gozo, a picturesque sister island of Malta, known as the island
of Calypso after the legendary Homeric nymph, where such
quarries have significant visual impact. Based on site contours
derived from historical survey sheets and making reference to
vernacular cultural features within the surroundings, a
restoration and rehabilitation of a disused quarry based on a
geocultural approach to landscape design was developed. Prior
rehabilitated to sustainable agrarian parcels of land, the site
contours were re-introduced together with field boundaries to
pre-mineral operational status. This approach is a rational
solution derived from rural vernacular architecture and ensures
a landscape design solution which reinstates the scenic quality
and the aesthetic experience of the area.
Index Terms—Landscape restoration, landscape rehabilitation, geocultural landscape, design, visual impact, Gozo.
L. Bianco is with the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta (e-mail: lino.bianco@um.edu.mt).
Index Terms—Landscape restoration, landscape rehabilitation, geocultural landscape, design, visual impact, Gozo.
L. Bianco is with the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta (e-mail: lino.bianco@um.edu.mt).
Cite: Lino Bianco, "Landscape Restoration and Rehabilitation: A Geocultural Design Approach," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 174-181, 2017.
General Information
- ISSN: 2010-0264 (Print); 2972-3698 (Online)
- Abbreviated Title: Int. J. Environ. Sci. Dev.
- Frequency: Bimonthly
- DOI: 10.18178/IJESD
- Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Richard Haynes
- Managing Editor: Ms. Cherry L. Chen
- Indexing: Scopus (CiteScore 2022: 1.4), Google Scholar, CNKI, ProQuest, EBSCO, etc.
- E-mail: ijesd@ejournal.net
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