Ethnic Minority Groups and the Design of Public Open Space: An inclusive landscape?

Abstract

People from ethnic minority groups have a range of experiences of living in Britain, some of which are significantly different from those of white British people. Previous research and case studies suggest that the physical environment has a positive or negative role in perceptions of everyday life. It is argued that landscapes have a symbolic dimension, and aspects of landscapes can be recognized as familiar or alien, welcoming or excluding. A wide variety of case studies in Britain are used to discuss design and management practices that reflect a range of cultural experiences. The need for landscape architects and managers to be aware of how places may be interpreted in different ways by different ethnic minority groups, and to work towards inclusive design, is highlighted.