Reading Response: The Third Landscape

Article given to us by Karl.

In the Third Landscape, Gilles Clément is being interviewed by Denise Bratton. In the interview the two discuss the concept of the "third landscape", or tertiary space that is, for all intents and purposes, abandoned. This abandoned space is more or less left to itself (with the occasional passer by), and that is what makes it what it is. When left to its own devices, the landscape will cultivate itself naturally, without human interference. I would say it is the closest thing to "real" nature as you can get, but by saying that, I am conceiding that humans and their presence are unnatural, which isn't true. Nor am I saying that this is "raw, untouched nature", because chances are likely that the landscape is recovering/being affected by something humanity has done. However, humanities lack of intervention is what makes these abandoned places this idea of the third landscape - as soon as humans have an interest in it (and subsequently invest in it), the third landscape property disappears, similarly to the concept of Muzak, music that is supposed to be ambient and unnoticed, and when it does become noticed and turns mainstream, loses it's property of Muzak. The only way to have it is to not commoditize it.

"But we also photographed in-between spaces where biodiversity was very intense - leftover, unmanaged places." (emphasis added)

"It is necessary in terms of ecological balance to set aside large portions of space as Third Landscape, abandoned or transitional spaces whose fate is left un-decided." (emphasis added)

"The Third Landscape is not a garden; it is the genetic resevoir of the planet."

A thought occured to me, and it stemmed from the idea that these are passive places - places you cannot invest in at all, not even to cut the grass. You just leave them alone - so, is it possible to engage this space more actively? What opportunities could we draw from this space in our designs? Could these Third Landscapes be a natural buffer from flooding, similar to the wetlands? Wetlands, if left alone, could conceivably become Third Landscape. We utilize wetlands all the time to help our developments. How can we harness this "power" to fuel our designs?