Concepts of Space

The concept of space is an idea developed, written and discussed in detail throughout Europe and the western world. Lefebvre's main hypothesis is that space is a social product, or result of a social interaction/construction based on values that in turn, affect spatial practices and perceptions. Today's Landscape Architects and Architects (perhaps subconsciously) draw from this theory of spatial practice as the dominant representation/view of space. If we take Lefebvre's conceptual triad (representational space, spatial practice and representations of space) and apply it to something tangible, like the design of a landscape, this way of thinking of space becomes familiar as a design process in western design.  

The War Rooms, St. James’s Park by Ned Scott

A modern day park design, viewed from Lefebvre's concept of "representation of space", would represent the physical planning and form of that space, looking at aspects such as site history and context. The park would be physically planned and produced through labor and modern technology. Lefebvre's "representational space" is how the park's users inhabit, coexist and utilize this space and how it is adapted and transformed by these groups. It is through these social interactions that the local meaning of the park is born. Finally, Lefebvre's "spatial practice" is the routine or daily reality of the designed park.  It is a multi-functional, public space where groups of similar interest can meet and engage in recreational or educational activity.  The familiar cycle of designing a landscape and having people then using/recreating in that space is typical of modern practice. But what about other meanings landscape and space? In other words, can the landscape itself inform the design, and can some new concept of space come from the landscape?

Lefebvre's conceptual triad is generally accepted in Western thought as the dominant concept of space, however it does leave room for other perspectives/ worldviews on representations of space and landscape. Lefebvre himself acknowledges that his view is Eurocentric: "How much can we really learn for instance, confined as we are to Western conceptual tools...?" (31). Other worldviews have different conceptual tools and ideas of space.  Landscape as a social production, is not the only method in which landscape is formed. In reality, landscapes are complex and layered with conflicting meanings that can be constructed through other conceptual tools such as cultural memory, nature or in conflict/power struggle.

Landscape is formed by more than just social production. Archaeologist Leslie Cecil, in her evaluation of colonial period Maya and their particular view of space demonstrates a different perspective. The designation and location of structures in Maya concept of space placed emphasis on nature. Solar and cosmic alignment informed much of their space. Thus, the Mayan formation of landscape and concept of space was s=not just a product of social production, but that influenced by the landscape itself. Their concept of space was layered as they conceived the universe to be divided in three realms: the upper world of the cosmos, the terrestrial world where the living resided and the underworld. In a way, Maya culture viewed their world conceptually from space and thus conceived of their surroundings from the more richly layered and complicated natural world. In the same way Cosgrove alludes to this richness in his evaluation of seeing landscape in aerial view. So can a new concept of space come from the landscape itself? Mayan cultural view and connection with forces of nature can make a case for this. Space as a social product is one way of forming landscape but there are other worldviews of defining space to be considered. The relationship between landscape, construction of space and natural forces in the formation of landscape is richly layered with history, complexity and meaning.