Meadowscape : Bring health to ecological systems through actions in the agricultural landscape

Abstract: The physical landscape is a patchwork of different physical and immaterial structures and networks built up through time, where nature and culture cooperate in processes of shaping the landscape. Since the first settlers in Sweden the grass meadow has taken a central part in the agricultural practices, but today little of this landscape remains. As the most biodiverse land type in Sweden, the loss of meadows states a threat to many endangered species. To maintain an agricultural landscape with high variation in land use, where biological values and cultural environments are maintained, the current landscape pattern and activities must be redesigned. This thesis takes it departure from the territory of Småland as a region defined by its long agricultural practises. The research aims to provide new learnings and insights from the agricultural landscape through historic and modern activities and patterns, to understand how ecological processes and human actions has influenced the landscape. Theories and methods supporting the research and design choices are Actor-Network Theory, landscape ecology and case studies from the agricultural landscape. Actor-Network Theory is used to prevent braking down a complex problem into static actors, but to instead recognise the links and connection the actors already make. In this case the main actors are agricultural tools and structures, landscape elements, landscape ecology, plants and animals. Through a set of design guides based on landscape design principles and the understanding of the rules actors follow in the landscape network, a new diverse landscape pattern can emerge, defined as a meadowscape. As architects we have the possibility to thorough understanding the rules and logic of historic and modern actors in the landscape, rethink their patterns and use them to create a new type of landscape that cater both ecological activity.