Identity and Plasticity in the Reshaping Processes of Urban Landscape

Abstract

The European Landscape Convention, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 19 July 2000 and opened for signature by its Members States in Florence on 20 October 2000, is a instrument devoted to the protection, management and planning of the landscapes in Europe. The concept of landscape in the convention differs from the one that may be found in certain documents, which sees in landscapes an “asset” (heritage concept of landscape) and assesses it (as “cultural”, “natural” etc landscape) by considering it as a part of physical space. This new concept expresses, on the contrary, the desire to confront, head-on and in a comprehensive way, the theme of the quality of the surroundings where people live; this is recognized as a precondition for individual and social well-being (understood in the physical, physiological, psychological and intellectual sense) and for the sustainable development, as well as a resource conductive to economic activity. (in Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)3 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the Guidelines for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 6 February 2008). Within the spirit of the European Landscape Convention’s principles and purposes presented, this paper aims to discuss the role of identity and plasticity on the reshaping processes of urban landscapes, especially those related to the urban regeneration processes.