| Summary: | 博士 === 中興大學 === 園藝學系所 === 99 === Based upon the concept of “seeing without being seen”, Appleton (1975) proposed the prospect-refuge theory (P-R theory) which was extensively used as an explanation why people prefer certain types of landscape or an information variable to predict preference by landscape researchers. Although there are some applied researches related to the P-R theory, there still needs further examination about the rationality of P-R theory to assist in validly defining the degree of prospect and refuge in landscape design. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to review the P-R theory as well as to reexamine and compare the P-R context on different landscape spaces, a natural setting and a Chinese garden, in the viewpoint of experience.
To achieve the study purpose, the study adopted a qualitative oriented research method. The study used the technique of visitor employed photography (VEP) to obtain the required data (e.g., preference, the reasons why he/she prefers, experience in the setting,…etc.) from observers both in a natural environment and a Chinese garden. In-depth interviews were implemented after observers had taken all the preferred photos in his/her own will. The qualitative software of Altlas.ti was used to analyze the data.
The study redefined the prospect and refuge frameworks which Appleton proposed. Moreover the results indicated that in both settings, the qualitative data from the in-depth interviews and the photos that observers shot brought up several points regarding the relationship between preference of scenes and prospect and refuge properties. In natural environment, the scenes belong to the property of vista reflected a high preference frequency and hold an extended feature. The scenes with secondary prospect configurations aroused observers’ explorative thought as well as the scenes with secondary refuge symbolism hold attractions for observers such as the buildings, shadow, or cave. In Chinese garden setting, the extended scenes belong to the prospect property reflected a high preference frequency. Furthermore, observers preferred the scenes with properties of shelters or hides belonged to refuge concept and felt to be protected.
Overall to say, the study employed VEP technique and qualitative method to explore and compare the prospect and refuge context on different landscape spaces. The results of the study act as the foundation to form a practical guidance in creating a preferred environment with prospect and refuge properties which can be provided for landscape design and tourism and recreation resource investigation and planning. According to the results of the study, moreover, quantitative study can be undertaken to find out the preference of certain settings with different P-R ration in the future.
|
|---|
