Designing with the Landscape

This paper argues that, while European legislative frameworks, assessment methodologies and systems of visual resources are invaluable tools for designing with the landscape and its contemporary connotations, it is difficult to ‘unlock’ the cultural properties of landscape without a creative choice of values made by the architect who designs with it. Architecture that evolves with the landscape—both natural and cultural—is a call to re-examine today’s realities within the framework of climate change, limited resources and an unprecedented flow of migration around the globe. Landscape is investigated in its multitude and intrinsic nature, as imaginary locus, mindscape and landform. As part of the New European Bauhaus discussions which were conducted across Europe, landscape emerges as a significant driver for architectural aesthetics and life supporting designs, while it offers the context for reconsidering the true needs of existence. Furthermore, landscape is an important constituent of place making along the European South, where well-being and a sense of freedom stem from the moderate climate and the prolonged life outdoors. Natural environment, local materials and landscape are also discussed as the treasures of the Southern European cultural continuum where inherent values of heritage are preserved. Case studies of Greek architects A. Couvelas, B. Babalou-Noukaki and A. Noukakis are juxtaposed to landscape assessment methodologies in order illustrate the discourse presented here.