ИСТИНА

This paper presents the results from a research project investigating the cultural landscape as social construction and its perception in every-day life in German, Italian and Russian cities. It has a special focus on dynamics, actors, and cultural values around landscapes of Berlin, Venice and Arkhangelsk. Particular attention is given to the broad definition of the term “cultural landscape”, analyzing this phenomenon from its origin and development in the Russian, German and Italian geographical schools to its meaning in ordinary life of citizens. This complex approach to the study of cultural landscape perception and to landscape as a construction allows us to better understand the interactions between landscape and its different actors such as citizens, governmental institutions, and private companies. Inhabitants and economic actors shape on the one hand this landscape, and on the other hand are influenced by these transformations. The case studies demonstrate the dynamic relationship between patterns in the landscape narrative and patterns in the real (built) environment of cities. Both the narrative and physical landscape patterns have been shaped by a local process of constant comparison and contrast with well-known symbols (landmarks of regions). In particular, the paper illustrates how the landscape will be interpreted in the local dialogue of place, especially in the perceptions of its residents, tourists and local experts as reported in semi-structured interviews and participatory observations. The cultural landscape of today’s Berlin, Venice and Arkhanglesk represents a bridge between the history of the cities and present development and at the same time acts as a symbol of economic and cultural power on national and international levels. As a memory and place of belonging, landscape is not only what we see, but also a way of seeing, e.g. how we interpret t with our mind. In this way, paper explores also some of the associated ideas of landscape as social construction in reflections to people of different cultural, natural and social background.