Paradise On Earth: Designing A Socially Sustainable Landscape In Northwest Pakistan
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Date
2014-12-10
Authors
Mirza, Mumtaz
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Abstract
Landscape architecture is about creating a sense of place. A worthwhile investigation lies in how to reinforce and/or improve that sense of place where one already exists, be it good or bad. The purpose of this practicum is to investigate the sabotaged landscapes in and around Landi Kotal, a city that lies near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and determine how the quality of the exterior environment can be enhanced to improve the already tumultuous sense of place that exists in the city.
People within this disrupted landscape are optimistic about the future. This optimism is the reason why I am inspired to focus on this place and understand how current methods of design can aid to improve the futures of this distinct region. The influence of subjective beauty was taken into consideration. This can be achieved through the study of people within environments, those who ultimately contribute to the perception of particular landscapes, and eventually, societies. In this project it is pertinent to reveal the effects environments have on the children that occupy them. The approach taken to this
practicum is to consider the measures to be taken in order to encourage a socially sustainable environment in the region through a designed exterior environment surrounding an orphanage.The ways in which people interact with their environments can be understood through a phenomenological interpretation.
Phenomenology will be used in this practicum as a lens by which exterior environments and their individual perception are understood. The Islamic paradise garden has influenced the research and design approach used throughout this practicum; the centrifugal/centripetal qualities of symmetrically designed outdoor environments are a useful platform for this design intervention.
The proposition of an orphanage situated in the city of Landi Kotal will focus on the shelter and education of the less privileged communities that reside on the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan. As previous efforts to establish a peaceful settlement in these regions have achieved little to no results, this project proposes mechanisms for regional stability by applying design techniques to demonstrate how landscape architecture can contribute to education and experience for children of all ages,
specifically in a war-torn area through the creation of appropriate environments. The research and subsequent design offer an example for future socially sustainable projects which aim to enhance individual and communal territories of regions negatively affected by war and violence.
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Keywords
Northwest Pakistan, Peshawar, Social Sustainability, Children, Play, Refugee, War, Poverty, Islam, Phenomenology