Reading Landscapes through Colour- part 3

5.0 Reading landscape through Figure Ground
“Before the art of illumination, there was blackness and afterward there will be blackness…” (Ch XIV; My Name is Red)

The concept of “Figure-ground” in its basic sense, refers to a cognitive ability to separate elements based upon contrast, that is, dark and light, black and white. Many times this definition is expanded from a simple perception based on contrast to include concepts such as melody/harmony, foreground/background and positive/negative space. By limiting the colours to just black and white, the resultant contrast allows reading of certain relationship often missed or usually overlooked.

In Architecture and Urban Design, a figure ground diagram is usually used to show the mass-void relationship. Such figure ground maps reveal whether the buildings create usable voids, acknowledge existing natural and manmade patterns or simply ignore them. In a garden setting, a Figure Ground drawing can become an analytical tool to understand the spatial character of the “voids” i.e. the open spaces at standard eye level. American Landscape Architect James Rose relied on the architectural graphic of Figure Ground relationships to establish and communicate the spatial qualities and design intents of his projects. Such a technique proves insightful for the designer, since landscape drawings are typically “top view plans” rather than “cut-view plans”.

Figure Ground drawings can also give vital cues about orienting the plan form of a building so as to generate a sense of harmony or deliberate shift from the existing harmony. The well known Vitra Fire Station by Zaha Hadid forms an interesting standpoint. Nearly minimal in its use of applied colour, the angular lines of the design, at first glance, betray any correlation to its immediate and distant contexts- manmade or natural. However it is of interest to note that the orientation of the building also resonates the agricultural patterns in the vicinity of the site- a fact highlighted by a figure ground drawing rather than architectural drawings.

Figure ground drawings also help in establishing the “value” of Landscape Conservation of historic sites. Usually these sites have transformed over time into green spaces or degraded significantly. The figure ground readings of such cases help establish the case for conservation and protection of such identities. In many cases the conservation agenda can significantly inform other efforts such as revitalization of an urban open space system.

6.0 Landscape Analysis- Reading landscape through colour

“Give me the license not to dwell upon every single detail, allow me to keep some clues to myself; Try and discover who I am from my choice of words and colours…” (Ch I; My Name is Red.)

Since the introduction of Ecological Planning the concept of reading a site as separate layers has formed a fundamental tool in decision making and decision support regarding Site and Regional Landscape planning. Though seemingly tedious, the method offers an objective insight into various on-site and off-site features regarding their intrinsic value, their influence on the proposed programme or the impact of the programme on these features. If done with integrity, the process can generate an environmentally sensible and sensitive programme for the site.

The process involves marking out various layers of information in colour on transparent media and then superimposing the same to generate and support certain correlations. Such processes act as oracles, recognizing what exists and predicting what can happen. With the advent of Geographic Information Systems, large amounts of disparate data and large scales of enquiry can be easily assimilated to generate various scenarios and arrest mere speculations.

In any given region its Physiography native forest type and natural vegetation inscribe a particular regionally specific colour character to the landscape. Across the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent, the colour of the landscape plays an important role in regional identity, perception through the seasons and such like. These landscapes are a lot more nuanced than simplistic classification/ dismissal as evergreen, deciduous and dry areas. Ecological Design demands the assimilation of such information in the design process. The most difficult part is convincing the stakeholder. Perhaps the best example of this is the perception of the Indian rural landscape from the state and National highways. Though the roads criss-cross a myriad of landscape types and ecologies we are increasingly seeing ubiquity and visual blight creeping along the view. Whether the colour of the landscape is the colour of blight, is a matter of perspective.

It would be worthwhile to constantly remind ourselves that in the past the irreversible epochs of the Earth’s history have been due to changes brought about by volcanoes and earthquakes. The surge for the Iconic and the Mega will most likely trigger the next. It would be a pity if all that is left of the Earth are its colours in pictures. The onus is on us to see that we design our cities and landscapes as symbiotic gestures rather than gimmicks that pay lip service to the word and colour “Green”.