THEORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

GANGA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE AND TOWN PLANNING

KABLANA, H.R., INDIA.

Submitted by:-
Deepti Chauhan
2 sem 1yr
How changing perception of man's relationship with nature as influenced
landscape?

HABITAT THEORY
DARWIN THEORY:-
 ‘Habitat theory’, initially proposed by Darwin (1958) asserts that the relationship between a human being
and the perceived environment is basically the same as the relationship of a creature to its habitat.
 In other words, it is about the ability of a place to satisfy biological needs of human beings.

 Appleton (1975) gives the habitat theory an aesthetic dimension by stating that satisfaction, experienced
in the contemplation of landscape, stems from the spontaneous perception of landscape features which, in their
shapes, colors, spatial arrangements and other visible attributes act as sign stimuli indicative of environmental
conditions favorable or unfavorable to survival.
J APPLETON’S THEORY:-
 Appleton (1975) argues that individuals within each species of animal, including Homo sapiens, are
motivated to perceive their surroundings in such a way that environmental information is acquired and stored in a
form in which it can be efficiently and quickly retrieved when needed in order to ensure survival.
 Men and women, in short, perceive their environment much the same way as other animals perceive their
habitat, and to this idea he gives the name “habitat theory.” He explains how some of the aspects that we perceive
are likely to be needed more immediately than others, particularly those that relate to self-preservation from
sudden, unexpected danger.
 The opportunity to achieve concealment, and this gives us the twin bases of our simple classification of
“prospect” and “refuge” (Appleton, 1975). Appleton opines that the area in which prospect-refuge theory has made
the greatest impact is in landscape architecture.
 Prospect-refuge theory Prospect-refuge theory, initially proposed by Appleton (1975, p. 63), expands on
Lorenz’s (1964) phrase “to see without being seen” as a primitive human behavior.
 It reduces the scope of the habitat theory and provides a kind of reaction to the environment by implying a
behavior which automatically exploits the advantages latent in a creature’s surroundings.
 The habitat is described as not only a landscape where food needed to be hunted, gathered, or grown in
small gardens but also one where dangerous predators roamed. In these circumstances, an enclosure such as a
cave is said to offer refuge while a commanding viewpoint is said to allow danger to be anticipated or food to be
identified. Because of this, an enclosed space is said to promote feelings of safety and relaxation whereas a
prospect is said to be stimulating and exciting.
 This theory explores the basic animal behavior of hunting and escaping still prevalent in human beings.
‘The hunter’ or ‘the hunted’, it is in the creature’s interest to ensure that he can see his quarry or predator, as the
case may be, without being seen (Lorenz, 1954)
 Prospect and refuge provide the spatial and geographical mechanisms by which humans maximize their
security and seek places that allow them to see their surroundings clearly, without being seen .
 Prospect-refuge theory is useful for designers because it is a reminder of how experiences are created
when spaces are designed. Although it is a theory developed mainly by reference to rural and natural landscapes,
the theory can also be applied to complex urban spaces created by buildings, topography and vegetation.
 Thus, principles derived from prospect and refuge prove to be useful in the analysis of landscapes
(Appleton, 1984). This research applies the same principles in the analysis of an urban landscape.