The concepts&Principles of Recreational Landscape Architecture

The purpose of this study is to discuss the principles, practices, and philosophies of recreational landscape architecture. The discussion concentrates on the design of a pleasurable, flowing, and beautiful landscape based upon the recreation neurophysioloy and sociopsychology as well as the forest aesthetics. The methods are : (1) to review the literature of previous research focusing on the landscape analysis , the recreation opportunity provision, the recreation influence of creative growth, and the design of landscapes; (2) to analyze and synthesize the concepts of recreational landscapes; (3) to examine the recreation experience, or the effects of visitors tested by multidisciplinary and a variety of statistic simulations and tests. 1. Recreational landscapes are both resource-oriented and user- oriented products judged by visitors* perception. To manipulate landscape beauty, one can use the principles developed from forest aesthetics, and further to enhance visitors* creativity and pleasure, one can also use the practices developed form recreation neurophysiology and sociopsychology. 2. The flow chart of forest landscape architecture based upon the concepts of recreational landscape is depicted in the diagram below. 3. The whole forest recreation area may be divided into a series of subareas which provide a variety of recreation opportunities. Each subarea follows its own management methods to enhance its landscape as most as possible. In general, the macro-landscape management concentrates on the form, color, and texture of the whole recreation area, whereas the micro- landscape management concentrates on the peaceful environment for recreation. 4. The primary consideration of the forest landscape design is to ensure that the elements of landscape beauty can meet well with the criteria of beauty perception. The secondary consideration is then to use the perception concepts to further enhance landscape beauty. 5. The macro-landscape attracts visitors with its novelty and intensity, and the micro-landscape then attracts visitors with its complexity and challenge. The facilities with safety and convenience can enhance visitors* abilities to experience leisure. Interpretative services with well designed visiting direction and information can let visitors* further enjoy the intellectual amusement. 6. Planning with open space in the forest and water areas can provide recreation opportunities which is embedded in the playfield with the full of phytoncid and negative ions. The pleasurable walks and the exercise supplies can also facilitate visitors with the physical relaxation. 7. The design combined with sensory, sporty, and visceral stimulus, such as with the wild-wife preserves, hiking walks, and adventure activities , can further create pleasant experiences in the forest recreation areas . 8. The causes of bad recreation experience are obtained from the poor landscapes, the dangerous viewing environments, less sensory and intellectual stimulus and the monotonous recreation opportunities. 9. It is important to select adequate operation approaches to the cutting, thinning, and prunning so to improve the forms and textures of forest landscapes. The operations must maintain the small cutting areas, green belts, and the ecological silviculture, and also respect the visitors opinions. 10. The forest artistic beauty is not been well presented in Taiwan. The local history, the arts and crafts activities, as will as the fairy and fantastic stories or plays are all good subjects for embedding into the recreation. 11. Transitional or stationary guidewalks are active interpretative services which can provide emotional and rational experiences to facilitate visitors* creative growth. 12. Visitors* physical and mental needs should be the primary consideration. The recreational and educational opportunities can serve as the products for mental needs, the food and beverage, the lodging and resting places can serve as products for physical needs. These service buildings should be well designed to present the special feature of local area, and to harmonize with the natural environment of the whole recreation area