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The Coulomb interactions between charged surfactants and multivalent counter‐ions can be used to form coagulated cross‐linked membranes at the surface of water. We have systematically measured the kinetics of the two‐dimensional gelation and the rheological properties of the stabilized films. The membranes, thus prepared, exhibit striking rubber‐elastic features. The results of Brewster‐Angle‐Microscopy indicate that these films consist of disc‐like aggregates, having typical diameters of about 10 μm. These particles are in close contact and form fractal network clusters. The shape of these structures is in general agreement with aggregates calculated from percolation theories.

This paper is primarily derived from the notion that neither landscapebased approaches nor the discipline of landscape architecture have yet fully engaged in responding to this decade's complex environmental and social challenges, since both landscape phenomena and discipline are to some extent under the influence of 19th century Romanticism and a number of obsolete ideas. This misalignment, at least from other planning and design disciplines' point of view, has impeded further development of the discipline in effectively engaging with the multiple interfaces possible in the environmental and social realms. To investigate this notion, a two-stage approach outlined here aims at establishing a constructive continuum between 'landscape', 'landscape concept' and the 'discipline' in order to extrapolate landscape architecture's own concept and thus establish a sound basis for self-criticism within the discipline.Self-criticism in conjunction with the continuum could not only produce new approaches to (un)built landscapes, but may also result in shifting the paradigm of the discipline. This would enable the discipline to take more active roles in imposing substantial landscape-based norms and values -i.e., through its own conceptions applied across the planning and design scales -upon the physical environment, rather than simply playing the defensive role of just protecting natural and cultural features against cultural interventions or destruction. To exemplify the hypothesis above, a number of case studies across a set of different contexts have been considered.The growing interest in better understanding landscape and the discipline has the potential to fit well with the emerging 'ecological era' and ideas of sustainability. This would create the prospect of a future congruent with the advancement of landscape architecture, on the proviso that the discipline successfully restores the missing link with landscape concept. The shift in paradigm would then suggest developing a comprehensive tradition of self-criticism to question the current direction of the discipline and disengage from the status quo policies of the past. Such self-criticism will further landscape-based approaches and increase the breadth of the discipline in individual and interdisciplinary landscape studies.Landscape / landscape concept / landscape architecture / landscape architecture concept / self-criticism in the discipline IntroductionHere, at the beginning the 21st century, new concepts and approaches are emerging or in place that will not only ensure remarkable changes on (non-)humanised habitats but also allow for a greater degree of self-criticism across a range of professional disciplines including landscape architecture (LA).Landscape approaches initially derived from the term 'landscape' have been acknowledged as forceful concepts through their commitment to our landscapes and community life alike. However, it is not unfair to say that LA can afford to pursue increased and broader linkages with the state-ofthe-art concept of landscape as...

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