A Transdisciplinary Approach to Recovering Natural and Cultural Landscape and Place Identification: A Case Study of Can Moritz Spring (Rubí, Spain)

Abstract

The perception of the quality of green and blue spaces can be key in the relationship between a community and its local landscape (i.e., place identification). The lack of transdisciplinary training and social-specific education of landscape architects regarding the complexity of landscape as a participative cultural artefact limits reaching the general population. Bridging this gap of landscape and place identification and evaluation by a local community was the main objective of the present case study conducted at an abandoned spring and seasonal stream area in Rubí (Spain). The "Steinitz method" of landscape evaluation was used as a participatory method to activate community members to learn about and express their visual preferences regarding this neglected landscape. Bottom-up interventions applying an "urban acupuncture" approach in the area identified as the least attractive by the residents were co-designed and combined with a top-down restoration of a nearby, existing but derelict and hidden, spring. In addition, before and after planning and implementing the intervention, we conducted surveys about the community perception, sense of belonging and use of the space. We observed that the lack of awareness of the inhabitants about this spring was an obstacle preventing the community from embracing the potential for health and wellbeing presented by the spring and adjacent landscape. Following the work, the landscape saw increasing use, and the historic spring was brought back to life as a resource to help people to improve their health and wellbeing.

Keywords: community engagement; health and wellbeing; heritage; landscape architecture; natural environments; social participation.

Figure 1

Location where the study site was conducted (valley of “Les Martines” in Rubí (Catalonia, Spain); source: Landscape Intervention and Heritage Management (LIHM) students). Yellow indicates the initiation of the stream; red indicates the area of study.

Figure 2

The spring of Can Moritz when first cleared of vegetation in 2014, during reconstruction in 2016 and after the restoration was completed in 2019 (pictures from Jordi Simó and Jordi Muntan).

Figure 3

Calendar of the project (intervention and its evaluation).

Figure 4

Participatory workshop with the neighbours (September 2017).

Figure 5

The visual preference mapping generated during the workshop with the locals (colour gradient from least to most preferred areas: red indicates areas of improvement, and green indicates areas with potential).

Figure 6

Masterplan of the interventions in the spring’s surroundings following the conclusion of the visual preference mapping (VPM) analysis (P indicates parking lot area). The bubbles are blue circles painted onto the surface of the car park, and the other circles are the positions of the painted logs.

Figure 7

Intervention in the surroundings of the spring, with the participation of the locals (clearance of rubbish, painting of circles on the car park surface, and tree and shrub planting).