The Conceptual Framework of Civic Landscape

The present study was conducted to answer how the concept of civic landscape can be realized. The civic landscape has incorporated democratic attitudes into urban landscape design and planning. Civilization, as a political-social discourse, is a way of creating a shared space for individuals to communicate on the basis of differences and disagreements. Landscape, as an interdisciplinary nature, inherently reflects the extent and limitations of social justice in space. Thus, explaining the concept of civic landscape does not mean providing an absolute definition, but seeking the factors that make the concept of civilization in space in general, and landscape in particular meaningful.

The purpose of this study is to explain a conceptual framework of civic landscape based on ideas and concepts of civilization in landscape architecture.

This is a descriptive-analytical study which has used the library method in collecting information. With the help of content analysis, the main concepts of the research are categorized and adapted to the concepts of landscape. Thus, at the first stage, the relationship between space and dimensions of civic society, and then the opportunities and constraints that may strengthen or weaken political-social discourse in the process of space planning are analyzed. Next, the place of society in the landscape design process is questioned by how democratic and social activities along with professional knowledge of environmental planning are needed. Finally, inspired by the three principles of civic society, the dimensions of the civic landscape are explained.

Inspired by the three dimensions of civic society (public opinions, institutions, movements), the civic landscape is divided into three characteristics that are compatible with the principles of civilization in terms of purpose, structure and concept. From this perspective, the purpose of civic landscape is the act of civilization, its structure is social construction, its concept is the concerns and ideals of civic society.