WSKAŹNIKOWA OCENA WARTOŚCI ESTETYCZNEJ KRAJOBRAZU MIEJSKIEGO NA PRZYKŁADZIE CENTRUM WIELICZKI
INDICATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF THE URBAN LANDSCAPE ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE WIELICZKA CENTER

Summary/Abstract: Aesthetic landscape assessments are difficult studies, mostly based on subjective methods and hybrid research tools. The need for aesthetic landscape research derives from the care and concern not only for spatial order, but also for the quality of life and the of living, work and leisure environment. The landscape discussed in the article will be considered aesthetically in physiognomic terms as an perceived visual landscape. The first problem in the aesthetic assessments of landscape is the choice of the appropriate spatial unit that can reflect the real features of that landscape. It is postulated to use of landscape and urban enclosures designated according to the viewing and urban planning criteria as the basic units for the perception of the urban landscape. In the next part there will be a two-stage analysis of landscape and urban enclosures in terms of value and visual attractiveness. The first stage is the identification and assessment of urban aesthetic landscapes – this indicator is used to assess the value of aesthetic urban landscape. The recommended groups of indicators include such landscape features as: colour and lighting, cleanliness and order, accessibility, functionality of enclosures resources, quality and technical condition, composition and arrangement, enclosures morphology and construction, decorativeness and urban furniture, proportionality of enclosures elements, spatiality (spaciousness), representativeness of the enclosures, diversity of enclosures resources, identity and symbolism, visibility as well as the compactness and coherence of enclosures walls. The second step is to specify the positive and negative landscape and aesthetic patterns in order to develop guidelines for the protection or improvement of the landscape with the highest and lowest values. In these studies, a view-composition analysis should be used based on the research methods and tools already available from the literature. The result of the research is a graphic design in the form of a choropleth map showing urban aesthetic landscapes and a series of guidelines for shaping and protecting the aesthetics of the landscape. The case study was based on the center of the town of Wieliczka, as it has the features typical of inner-city areas of small and medium-sized town in Poland. In the structure of the examined town center, 42 landscape and urban enclosures were determined based on the viewing and urban planning criteria. Among the best rated indicators there are those related to cleanliness and order, proportionality of enclosures elements, spatiality and accessibility, which are very often ascribed in geographical research (and not only) to the concept of spatial order. The enclosures with the highest rating are located in the central and northern part of the center of Wieliczka, covering the historic urban complex and a sequence of enclosures along the most important communication artery in the town. The lowest aesthetic rating was given to the enclosures located on the outskirts of the center. They are characterized by the dominance of the communication function (parking lots) with no or a cut line of buildings with a fairly free arrangement. In the article, the composition and viewing analysis was carried out for one of the highest-rated enclosure – Skulimowski Square. This enclosure creates an exceptionally harmonious landscape with a share of disharmonious objects not exceeding 1% of the enclosure view. The research emphasized the special function of tall greenery as a form binding the enclosure composition and building walls and “sealing” gaps in the coherence of the building line.

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