Inclusion Through Exclusion: Fid-Bau Portal

Inclusion Through Exclusion

Krarup, Jonna

This paper takes its point of departure in resources in philosophy to understand human- nonhuman as a relation in landscape architecture. Two seemingly contractionary terms distance and (re-)connection is used to discuss and reflect on some of the theoretical implications and openings that arise for landscape architecture amid the biodiversity and climate crisis; crises that may be seen as a result of an anthropocentric dominance over and a lack of care for the non-human. Talking about inclusion of the non-human in human society and the built environment, the idea of (re-)connecting, seems to be key. Theorists, artists, architects, and activists propose different strategies on how we might (re-)connect with the non-human. Some of these seems to be depending on a physical, body-to-body, encountering, others on how to mentally (re-)connect. Common for the different approaches and ideas is that distance seems to be problematic. But overcoming the distance must thus also mean making the non-human accessible, mentally, and physically, for humans. Distance is traditionally emphasized as a precondition for landscape as an aesthetic object in landscape architecture. If distance is a problem which is to be overcome as suggested with the current focus on (re)connecting in philosophy, sociology and in (landscape-)architecture, what might the implication be on landscape architectural theory and practice? It is argued that distance may be part of how to include the nonhuman, and that distance may be a prerequisite in including the nonhuman and practicing an ecology of practices, and an act of care.