Wednesday, 10 April 2013

Fortuitous landscapes vs. Manicured spaces

Hough (1995) in Tim Hall and Heather Barrett's book Urban Geography 4th Edition makes the distinction between a manicured space to that of a fortuitous landscape.  Manicured spaces, "symbols of high civic vitue) (p.316) are those that are planned to suit the needs of the individual utilizing the space.  These areas found in-front of homes, parks, buildings and other areas, suppress diversity according to Hough.  These areas use plants alien to the area while only using a variety of species
Manicured Space - Home

On the flip side, fortuitous landscapes are those spaces within the city that become abandoned and are allowed to be "unmanged" reflecting the local ecologies of the area.


Fortuitous Landscape
Hough feels that the fortuitous landscape will be more beneficial to reducing the "ecological footprint' we leave behind on the earth. Though i agree to Hough to some extent, I have noticed in my community, residents planning the gardens of their small spaces to incorporate local flora - bush medicines and vegetables are grown in plots and organized spaces providing a balance, in my mind, or culturally relevant plants as well as be socially pleasing.  Even the animals have a way of adapting to the surroundings.

Below are pictures of a "postman" bird who has laid eggs in my orchids.














1 comment:

  1. Awesome!

    Proper citation to Hough needed, but good stuff -- you can find more popular advocacy websites or blogs on the www to include here -- maybe even in TT?

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