Natural elements and structures in the image Czech towns and methodology of their analysis
Abstract: The quality of the urban environment of cities depends not only on the quality of urban and architectural objects, their spatial grouping and visual concept, but also on the number of other means of expression, of which nature elements are the most important. As man analyses the layout of the city, its transformations, development application of the various elements and structures and their authenticity, the visual aspect of the city (its image) can also be analysed from many points of view. City users indeed perceive their environment largely visually or rather multi-sensually. There is a number of methodological approaches, however this paper presents and develops a methodology of panoramic views analysis of created by Michael Hexner, focusing on natural elements and structures in the images of Czech cities. This article aims to verify the hypothesis that natural elements and structures are equal component of the image of the city and cannot be separated from the urban structure. Great attention is paid to the selection of cities analyzed with a focus on small Czech town with a preserved urban structure and description of the methodology used, analysis of the panorama. On a selected sample of three cities is presented using the above methodology and discussed preliminary conclusions, the limits and potential of the methodology and questions for future research directions.
