Assessing landscape perceptions of urban waterscapes

Abstract

Water is one of the most significant design elements that contributes to people feeling good physically, behaviorally and psychologically. This paper aims to reveal the landscape values of various water compositions. As a result of the assessment of 20 different water compositions using a questionnaire and landscape assessment approach in different places in Edirne, the effects of water on landscape perceptions and preferences were revealed. With the help of the questionnaire answered by 100 people, visual preferences of the users, feelings and assessment of waters with the predetermined adjective pairs and landscape values were revealed for different water features. Variation analysis, correlation analysis and factor analysis were used in the study. It was found that waters with different features created different effects and they got higher values in terms of visual-spatial effects and functionality criteria when assessed in terms of landscape values. It was also revealed that natural and almost natural water scenes, wide water surfaces and silent or almost silent water scenes created a feeling of tranquility.