Cinematic Landscape

Rural landscape view from a train: Cinematic Landscape, Romania by Oana Dobre

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Name	Rural Landscape - View from a Train
Location	The three major counties along the Giurgiu - Videle railroad
Country	Romania
Topic	Landscape diversity and landscape perception
Completion	2008 - today
Case study author(s)	Oana Dobre


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Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?

For most people the only contact with these types of landscape (agricultural and rural landscape) is a visual one. We see these landscapes when we travel long distances from a point to another, via train or via car, even via plane. For my case study I've chosen to analyze the landscape view from a train because in that area (the selected site for this seminar) the train is the most efficient way of transport due to the bad condition of the roads. But also because when you travel by train you tend to look out the window more often. The window is larger, the wagon is more spacious, your eye level is much higher than in a car, you don't need to focus on driving. These factors improve the perception.

The site I've chosen presents, in a general way, the agricultural and rural landscape situation in all southern part of Romania. In my travels in this part of the country I've noticed that there are many resemblances: architectural programs (railway stations, silos, public administration buildings, housing), species of plants cultivated, effects of deindustrialization, ways of living etc.

Author's perspective

In the years of college all the studies have been concentrated on urban landscape, so the theme I've chosen for my diploma was something new for me. I chose the rural landscape theme due to the importance of agriculture, the large amount of space used to practice this activity, and the diverse landscape that takes birth from doing it. In Romania the agriculture is in a deplorable state, so one of my objectives is to identify new driving forces, that will lead to a increased diversity of this kind of landscape. But also to find a way to make this type of landscape "visible" for all the people.

Landscape and/or urban context

The studied area is located in the south part of Romania, along the railroad that connects the cities Giurgiu and Videle. Besides this two cities the site is influenced by the capital, Bucuresti, and Alexandria city. There are three major communication ways inside the site: the Giurgiu-Videle railroad which is doubled by a county road, and the E70 road, that connects Bucuresti and Alexandria. All of this roads are intersecting in Draganesti county, one of the three studied counties. Across the history this intersection had a big influence on Draganesti county, especially regarding housing architecture. Also, this is the only county that has a cinema (now functioning as a cultural home), an ATM, a phone headquarters. Its the most developed county in the area, mostly do to the fast connection with the capital (1 hour - 1 hour and a half by car). Specific for Draganesti county are the Calnistea river (important natural resource) and the Dandara forest (the bigest in the area, relic of the Codrii Vlasiei, a forest composed mostly by Quercus species). The whole studied area is located in the plain, the units Gavanu Burdea plain and Burnazului plain. There are two particular aspects of this plains: in Gavanu Burdea plain the rivers flow to north instead of south, and in Burnazului plain, in Stanesti county area we deal with the only high plain of the site. This has a major influence on how this county looks, how it's organized. Here we have a good view of the Bulgarian city Russe. Stanesti county is directly influenced by Giurgiu city. The third county studied is Toporu, which is located between Draganesti and Stanesti, Videle and Giurgiu. The bigest problem of this county is the lack of accessibility.

Cultural/social/political context

Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes

History

How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?

Illustration: Table or time line