Porosity as a Structural Principle of Urban Landscapes

Large-Scale Urban Parks on Post-Industrial Sites in Contemporary Urban Landscape Conceptions

“…In summary, as demonstrated by the urban models of the Zwischenstadt and Porous City in Europe, contemporary cities have been transformed to a large extent, which prompts us to interpret them from such perspectives as morphology, landscape, functions, society, and the way of governance. Among them, landscape determines the future development of the city (Weilacher 2018). By discussing the model of cities, the key viewpoint is supported that the change in urban structures is definitely correlated with that of conceptual urban landscapes.…”

“…The use of the term structure was established among the structuralists in architecture in the wake of criticism of modernist functionalism, greatly influenced by the ideas of Swiss architectural theorist Arnulf Lüchinger and Dutch architect and structuralist Willem van Bodegraven. In the mid-1980s, structuralism became the focus of interest in landscape architecture when the ecology movement became increasingly strong and ways were sought to improve the ability to change, develop, and transform designed urban landscapes (Weilacher 2018). When German landscape architects accepted that a living landscape or city should be able to change its face without losing its face, they recognized that open structures are perfectly suited to developing growth-enabling integration that can change dynamically without losing their identity and inner cohesion (ibid.).…”

“…On the one hand, there is much significance attached to the morphological characteristic of porosity with respect to landscape architecture. As an essential property of spatial boundaries in both nature and landscape, porosity ensures the connection of separate landscape units to each other and to the environment (Weilacher 2018). On the other hand, the natural and manmade infiltrations in porous cities can breathe life into the city based on the "social production of space" put forward by Henri Lefèbvre (Bauer et al 2018).…”

“…This necessitates a structure capable to ensure both the flexibility and stability of living tissue. In the view of Udo Weilacher, the sponge city plays a role in connecting the centrally important theoretical approach of structuralism (Weilacher 2018), as mentioned in the analysis of the German urban landscape-landscape structuralism. Due to the methodical application of structuralism, trail-blazing open space projects have been developed, which feature extensive readability, flexible utility, site-specific historical references, and high social permeability (ibid.…”