Workpackage 2

WP 2: Development of tools for the restructuring of disturbed landscapes

The 20th century has bequeathed to today’s and future generations a universe of disturbed places (and landscapes). The dominance of a technical practice that was geared to quantitative increase of production and turnover of material goods and subjected the natural and historic heritages formed by geography and history for a long time has deteriorated entire landscape spaces.

Initially this WP will deal with the reasons (historic, geographic, political, cultural, ethic and aesthetic) that induce our civilisation to control and shape (re-qualification, re-forming) of disturbed landscapes.

To this end, the three partner regions will carry out studies on landscape history and planning instruments:

• Historic-geographic analyses of the cultural landscapes in the three regions

The studies shall identify, by means of time intersections, the historic-geographic change processes in Lusatia, Veneto and the Katowice agglomeration with the respective regional, ecological and landscape characteristics.

• Study "Instruments of spatial planning and their impacts on landscape structures"

An explorative study will examine the conditions, stakeholders and strategies of spatial development in the region of Lower Lusatia by means of examples.

In addition, the special features as compared to other regions involved in similar restructuring processes shall be identified.

Objective is to use the results and findings of the studies as well as international discussions in the preparation of a manual that is to become a management tool for dealing with disturbed cultural landscapes.

• Expert panel

Design criteria for restructuring cultural landscapes will be developed with assistance by an international panel of experts and based on the study findings.

• Management manual

This manual shall be a guide in the evaluation of the entire restructuring process of a place and suggest a method to control such redevelopment as a process of cooperation between practical and theoretical competences, disciplines and areas of operation: The steering of redevelopment as a program, as a coordination task and thus itself as a special discipline.