A Study on Residents' Visual Perceptions and Attitudes Towards the Historic Landscape : A Case Study in the Western Urban Fringe of Kobe City

Abstract

In this study, resident groups from an urban and a rural district, both located in the western urban fringe of Kobe City were interviewed in order to evaluate their attitudes towards the historic landscape of Taisan-ji temple. The residents' interests and their activities in this area were asked by a questionnaire and an aerial-photograph was used to visualize their favorite and hateful places. In a previous study, this area was assessed by residents as the most favorite place in the region, which should be protected. From the results, each group possesses different attitudes which are mostly based on their everyday living experiences and cultural values. Through a comparative analysis of preferences the main attitudes were defined into the "native" and "visitor" points of views. To improve this area, the Ikawa river should be restored by its own natural features and a stroll path should connect a desired hillside forest park with a parking lot.

神戸市西区の互いに隣接する市街化区域と市街化調整区域 (農村地区) の住民を対象として太山寺の歴史的景観に対する意識と選好を評価する目的でインタビューを行った。前回の研究で住民はこの場所をすべての地域の中で最も気に入った場所として保存が必要と評価した。今回は, 3つの住民グループにこの地区についての関心とそこでの生活に関して質問を行うととともに, 航空写真を用いて, その地区での住民の最も好きな場所と最も嫌いな場所の選定を行った。その結果, 各グループは異なった意識を示した。これらの意識は, 日常生活における経験と文化的背景によって異なり, 「地元の人」の意識と「訪門者」の意識とみなす事ができた。この地区を改善するために伊川をはその固有の自然的特徴を活かして修復し, 駐車場と森林公園を連結した遊歩道をつくることが必要と考えられた。