Cohesive aesthetics for multifunctional landscape territories:In time of ecological understandings

Aesthetics in landscape architecture have always reflected our values and our relationship with nature throughout history (Fink, 2003; Ritter, 1995).<br/>With the emerging climate and biodiversity crisis (IPCC, 2023; Kolbert, 2015; McDonald e t a l ., 2019), landscape aesthetics has seen a shift towards<br/>sustainable and ecological design in theories and practices. With Denmark undergoing a nationwide transformation of its rural area from heavily<br/>industrialized agricultural land to a multifunctional landscape with sustainability and ecological intentions, we are facing yet another shift in the aesthetic<br/>principles to guide this shift towards a systematic and cohesive ecosystem where all living beings on earth are presented (Morton, 2016).<br/>This article explores the development of a vocabulary for a more ecological and systemic perspective on landscape architecture and planning. Grounded in<br/>theories of holistic and ecological design, including Patrick Geddes’ holistic urban planning to Ian McHarg’s ecological design principles (McHarg, 1969),<br/>Richard Forman’s concept of land mosaics (Forman, 1995) and Anne Whiston Spirn’s interpretation of landscape as a language (Spirn, 1998). The study<br/>further integrates contemporary theories on shifting aesthetic perspectives (Coccia, 2019; Latour, 2018) in the relationship between cities, nature and<br/>landscapes (Nielsen, 2023). The development of this vocabulary is strengthened through an analysis of relevant contemporary case studies, illustrating how<br/>aesthetic considerations intersect with ecological and structural transformations.<br/>This is conducted within the context of Denmark’s ongoing rural and peri-urban landscape transformation, which aims to meet the nation’s sustainability<br/>goals by 2050 and the national demand for 30% protected nature. This initiative has placed the rural and peri-urban areas under the spotlight, as centuries<br/>of deforestation, draining and industrialized farming have left behind barren ecological value. These land use practices have resulted in a monotonous and<br/>often overlooked reality, reinforcing a function-oriented aesthetic in both public perception and landscape practices.<br/>The vocabulary is tested and further developed through a primary case study: a large-scale landscape planning project near Aarhus, Denmark. Spanning<br/>around 1.000 hectares, this project integrates multiple land-use transformations, including the establishment of an energy park, solar farms, nature<br/>restoration, afforestation, and urban development. As a pilot initiative in collaboration with the Aarhus School of Architecture, the project aims to develop<br/>new methods and frameworks for understanding large-scale landscape transformation and land-use change.<br/>Through the theoretical inquiry and case study analysis, the article examines the evolving values and perceptions shaping our relationship with the<br/>environment. It critically assesses the aesthetic dimensions of current landscape practices and their ability to reflect and respond to these shifting values at<br/>territorial scales. Based on this analysis, the article proposes a new perspective on cohesive aesthetics for multifunctional landscape territories. It presents<br/>design strategies that align with evolving ecological and systemic paradigms, using the Aarhus landscape transformation project as a 1:1 research by<br/>design study(Jonas and Grand, 2012; Prominski and Von Seggern, 2019; Wang and Groat, 2013). This case exemplifies a holistic and multifunctional land-<br/>use approach, highlighting the evolving role of landscape architects in navigating large-scale ecological transitions.