Biophysical, Cultural and Aesthetics Contributions in Landscape Reclamation

摘要

With the obligation to reclaim unusable land emerge the need to approach the contributions that the biophysical, cultural and aesthetic components have in the reclamation of derelict industrial areas. Each one of these components contributes in a different way to landscape reclamation. Biophysical components may restrict or favour the implantation of human activities; cultural component informs us about the history, the habits and the traditions, constituting an important way to emphasise the spirit of the place; aesthetic components influences upon landscape reclamation include the landscape of the locality, traditional influences in landscape design, and various theoretical approaches. The study area was one of the largest industrial centres of Portugal, built in the ends of the 19th century and located in the margins of river Arade. The cultural and environmental richness of the study area explains the need of different approaches in landscape reclamation. The study and protection of the industrial heritage is a very recent attitude in Portugal and this study intends to explain the problems faced in the reclamation of derelict industrial areas and the way those problems may be minimized using landscape components to rationalize the use of the resources and to achieve sustainable development. The principles and technologies used in reclamation of derelict areas are developed following the concept of ecoarchitecture, with the integration of the actual human activities and history of the place.