Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Abstract

In order to work with historical sites, there must be an understanding of the complexity around the preservation of parks, gardens and landscapes and the approach to be used in the rebuilding and renewal. These issues are an important starting point of this essay.

Historical environments give us as individuals an insight in who we are and from where we come, which is an important part of our need of identity as human beings. Without them, our roots in the past will be non-existent. The importance of this support base lies not only in the garden conservation, but also in the picture of developments, which we have through of as time mirrors of our living environment.

To help preserve these parks, gardens and landscape and as a tool that on the same basis to discuss on the subject, there are different laws and recommendations in the form of The Swedish Law of monuments and The document of Florens. They both describe, from different point of views that the park and garden, by virtue of there own qualities are historically interesting and valuable to preserve.

In order to move closer to these questions, I have examined some people's opinions and thoughts on the conservation and restoration. Among them are Walter Bauer, Sven-Ingvar Andersson, Klaus Stritzke and Åsa Ahrland whom all work or worked very hard with questions regarding preservation and restoration projects. These persons represent different periods of time and ideals, which gives a historical overview of the debate in recent years (it is not, however, a review of the debate). They also show four different ways of looking at the same thing, namely, how to work in a historic park or garden.

The final section of the paper contains examples of parks in Sweden and Europe in which restoration has been done in various ways. These are selected on the basis of the material I have read, advice from mentor and on the basis of places I visited and had a relationship with. Drottningholm, Painshill and Muskauer Park are some examples of these. Other places of importance are given in the text, such as Ulla Molins garden in Höganäs and Fredriksdal open-air museum in Helsingborg.

I wish by this essay create a tool and give myself and the reader a clearer picture of the problem, a tool that can be used in the role of a shaping landscape architect, and for other professions in which these types of issues can arise.