A Trivalent Approach to the Quality of the “Khoshk” River Landscape in Shiraz

By considering certain factors like those mentioned by Ian Thompson (2005) in his definition of landscape, i.e. ecology, community and delight, in designing landscapes, one can find the vocation more applicable and useful. City rivers can play a very important role with regard to such values. In fact, the presence of nature and wildlife could not only be the lifeline of a city, but also a factor for community activities. Environmental quality improvement case study (aesthetically) among today’s building constructions is the result of approaching landscape from such a perspective. In the present paper, a river in Shiraz called the ‘Khoshk River’–the river that keeps people safe during the rainy seasons by providing a passage for the excess water–is studied based on the factors of designing landscapes. In this regard, the ecological effect of the river as a natural corridor in a warm and dry climate is obvious; however, the two other effects of community and delight are ignored in relation to the landscape of this natural axis. Thus, apart from considering its ecological role, bringing the spirit of society and delight back into the seasonal lifeline is one of the purposes of this study. The river was a recreation area for the people in the past. However, it is now surrounded by different residential, commercial, and administrative buildings, and the society factor (with minimum attention to its ecological and landscape values) is active outside this natural axis. In attention towards the river’s landscape, using the river to resolve traffic problems (building overpasses and underpasses), and a subway nearby, have created an undesirable image of this natural phenomenon.