Compositional and Structural Evaluation of Historic Public Parks: A Design Analysis

The article outlined a method to examine the compositional development of some well-known 19th century European public parks with rich historic character. It focused on investigations forming the foundation for a research and design approach ensuring diversity and similarity of the sites, contexts and design problems. Backgrounds and principles that underpin the relation between conservation and development in historical settings of parks are addressed. The survey and comparative analysis of old maps, designs, descriptions and documentation of the current conditions of the investigated parks primarily through remote sensing methods provided an overview of the development and state of preservation of key compositional aspects: spatial structure, design, tree canopy coverage, road and water system, visual connections, dendrological species and forms during the last two centuries. This design analysis approach served as a research method supporting new landscape architecture challenges in conservation and restoration in a changing ecological environment and with new requirements from contemporary planning and design.