Research aim In landscape architecture, beauty is often seen as the ultimate design goal. Can the same be true for the sublime, a concept emphasizing deep human emotions, which has been neglected for a long time? Can the field of landscape architecture, dealing with the design of everyday landscapes for people, contribute to the sublime? In this research we studied whether the sublime can be a guiding principle for the analysis and design of landscapes.
Poster presentation MSc thesis December 2014
examiners: ir. P.A. (Paul) Roncken ir. R. (Rudi) van Etteger prof.dr.ir. A. (Adri) van den Brink Landscape Architecture Wageningen UR
Frits gazing out of the window sees a new possibility to sit.
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Hamerstraatgebied
How to design with the sublime
Process To establish an understanding of the sublime, we use three main theoretical contributions, written by Longinus, Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant. Based on these sources, we identify a mechanism in which the sublime is explained by defining an initiator, a process and its conditions. We also consulted other literature of the sublime to establish a list of clues. Clues can be used to categorize different sensations for the sublime. Implementing both the mechanism and the clues, the Hamerstraatgebied is analyzed and designed for sublime experiences. First, the relations between the clues and the physical landscape are explored, according to our own interpretations. Several field visits and map analyses give a first understanding of the area. We explore the area and connect clues to different locations. This leads to an extensive set of ideas. Then we involved the users of the area. We use a questionnaire to get basic insights of the their behaviour and experiences.
A walk through the Hamerstraatgebied
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Visual 1
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Waving grass Abdel’s work noise Waving grass Concrete surface
“People throw their garbage right in front of you on the ground.” “This place is unsafe for children because cars drive much too fast.”
Observations and stories of users offer us extra information. Using the personas method we can relate this information to different user groups, resulting in four archetype users: • Abdel the craftsman; • Frits the creative employee; • Marian the desk worker; • Jos the manager. Through these four personas we can understand the area from the perspective of its users, including their work activities. By conducting a rhythmanalysis we can relate these activities to specific locations and time. With this, we get a better insight of the behavioural patterns of each persona. This process leads to two main design approaches which are explained on this poster: • the group sublime is based on the spectator in relation to other people; • the individual sublime is based on the spectator in relation to the landscape.
Mechanism of the sublime We see the sublime as a process that can be described according to a mechanism, based on theory by Longinus, Burke and Kant. The mechanism exists of three components: the initiator, the trigger for the sensation; the process, the emotions that relate to the sensation; the condition, the circumstances that are needed.
“Those pot smoking students damage the reputation of this area.”
Design approach 1: The group sublime
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Re�lection Wonder Self-Awareness Ambition
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At the Spijkerhaven, the monofunctional parking space is redesigned into a sociable square for workers of the surrounding buildings. Petrified waves of concrete reminiscent the waves of the filled-in harbour. The concrete waves allow different activities but does not propose any fixed behaviour. The amount of freedom creates uncertainty with its users as instructions are missing. The four personas can do whatever they like: working, eating, meeting, sporting, or just gazing at others. By being creative and studying other users, personas can create their own manual to use this landscape. Planting of grasses allows users limited privacy while still being visual from the buildings.
Clues for the sublime To make the sublime more graspable, we focus on the emotional aspect of the sublime. We search through different texts about the sublime for indicators of emotions. These indicators we call clues for the sublime. Based on limited text, we identify more than 90 clues for the sublime. These are divided into eleven groups based on their different aspects. The clues can be used to categorize different sensations for the sublime.
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Solitude Pleasure Intimacy Movement Transition
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Design principle.
Seagulls Own footsteps Human presence Work noises
Car parking Car passing by Jos laying down Waving grass Car passing by
Waving grass Concrete surface Stress Solitude Tension Pleasure Inidividuation
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Within the existing harbour of the GVB ferries a pier is designed that proposes to take a linear route towards the IJ, providing a sequence of different experiences. First a distraction from the daily rhythms, followed by a short moment of maximum enclosement by the hedge. Entering a small closed space with borders of moving cattail reeds. When entering the pier, first the spectacle is superficial, but further, when the pathway slightly rises, there is more visual exposure to weather, dynamics and other people’s views. The pier ends in a stairway towards water level. Here, the viewer fully experiences the strong edge of north Amsterdam, leading to a reflection on his specific location.
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Pleasure Solitude Dynamics Unknown
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For this design, the sensational experience that the landscape evokes are sources for different clues of the sublime. We see a strong presence of clues referring to a incomprehensible concept. This, by emotions of solitude, intimacy, work dynamics, awe and vastness.
“My clients really appreciate the awesome location of my company.”
Seagulls Loud wind Human presence Others shouting
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“One day I caught people having sex on this small beach.”
“The view on the river is always so different.”
Physical effort of body Wind and water on skin Tension Vastness Indeterminacy Awe
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The initiator is the set of formless concepts: the IJ, the harbour dynamics and the presence of others. The process is an experience while walking up the pier and being surrounded by stimuli such as the ferry boats, the weather and other people. The condition is the connection to the commuting route of Frits, Jos and Marian, for whom the pathway is a distraction from their everyday work rhythm.
Amsterdam skyline Harbour dynamics Gaze from waterfront Weather/seasonality
Exposure to wind and sight.
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Physical effort of body Wind and water on skin
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Harbour dynamics Enclosed view on pier
Solitude of a walk on the pier.
While Abdel stresses, Jos finds time to relax.
The initiator is the landscape and performance of the users within this landscape. The process is an experience of discovery how to use the landscape. This by testing under limited privacy and spying on others while being subject to their gaze. The condition is an unscripted setting that affords different uses by different people with their own perspectives, rhythms and uses.
Cattail reed on skin
Intimacy with reeds and water.
Abdel’s work activities Pergola construction Frits working
Can design influence everyday sublime experiences of the Hamerstraatgebied for people working in the area?
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“A vagabond visits this place often. Then we bring him coffee.”
Marian wonders about Abdel’s work.
The city of Amsterdam with its work landscapes (deep green), the location of the Hamerstraatgebied and the new transit connections (red).
Marian
Abdel
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“In weekends, prostitutes have their workplaces here.”
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The Hamerstraatgebied is a location within the urban setting of north Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The area is a work landscape and has a continuous demand for efficient workplaces. For a long time, the area has offered a diversity of work environments, starting 100 years ago with large shipbuilding companies and factories. Nowadays, it grows into one of the city’s main location for new offices and creative industries. Instead of other areas in north Amsterdam, the Hamerstraatgebied has not yet been redeveloped recently. The new ferry line of the Oostveer and the soon to be opened underground of the Noord/Zuidlijn strongly connect the area to the rest of the city. All different users try to find their own way in the Hamerstraatgebied and have their own experiences. These everyday diverse experiences make the area a perfect location for our research.
Wonder Ambition Curiosity Tension
Small birds and insects Soft wind Sloshing water
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abelcoenen@gmail.com sascha.geneste@gmail.com
“The Schöne building looks always so closed, as if it is a fortress.”
Waving grass Concrete surface
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by Sascha Geneste and Abel Coenen
Waving grass
Design approach 2: The individual sublime
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landscape in the Hamerstraatgebied
We encounter sublime experiences in our everyday lives and landscapes.
Waving cattail reed Small birds and insects Seasonality
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Works of the sublime Sublime design of the everyday work
Building Pand Noord Frits gazing out of the window
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For this design, sensational experiences by people’s activities are sources for different clues of the sublime. These are very diverse and can include joy and surprise, yet also competition and loathing. The landscape itself evokes a sense of obscurity and indeterminacy. Design principle.
“A tree fell down on a car - pity it was taken away, because I liked the tree.”
Jos
Frits “The ferry crossing is my favourite moment of relaxation before and after a busy workday.”
Oostveer
Awe Pleasure
Albemarle factory
“In the past, people thought that men got bald because of the emissions of the Ketjen factory.”
Surprise
Oostveer
“Before the Oostveer was there, this place was so desolate - now it becomes a meaningful place to people.”
Johan van Hasseltweg
Self-awareness
Voidness
Delight
Lust
Agitation
Unknown “I actually should not tell you, but I am moonlighting.”
G.T. Ketjenweg
“The women who visit the casting agency at the other side of the street are always a joy to see!”
Gedempt Hamerkanaal
Uncanny
“This vacant building does not contribute to the ambitious atmosphere of this area!”
“At night there are sinister people here. Then I’d rather not cycle home on my own.”
Joy Solitude
Danger
“We work a lot together in this building, also with people from other companies.”
Pride
Magnitude
Spijkerhaven
Hoyer terrain
Wonder
“On this spot, the cruiseships who visit the city turn around in the river, which is a spectacular view!”
“The dynamics of this harbour add to the adventure of this place!”
Indeterminacy Curiosity
GVB Veerhaven