TOURISM AND RECREATION
CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR ASSESSING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUES IN HISTORICAL CITY
PARKS IN BULGARIA
Assoc. Prof., PhD Galev Emil Perchikliyski Grigor
Bulgaria, Sofia, University of Forestry
Abstract. The main objective of the study is to explore, complement and bring out the criteria and indicators to assess the cultural values of national importance in some old gardens and parks in Bulgaria. The implementation of this objective will find modern and adequate opportunities for separation and characterization of specific objects as a significant part of the cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria in the field ofpark & garden arts. Object of study are theoretical definitions that characterize these kinds of arts, laws and regulations concerning similar gardens which are designated as cultural values of real objects from Bulgaria. In the research are studied different historical or city parks and are selected typical samples possessing elements that have a significant contribution to the development of park & garden arts. The research included also the study of the legal framework in Bulgaria, as well as some significant sites, which have the status of culture monuments of national and global importance. These are examples of park & garden arts that have high landscape and architectural value and are part of the cultural and historical European values. All are examples of both global and national importance. It was prepared summary analyzes that allow a comparison between the laws of different countries concerning the cultural heritage in the gardens and parks.
Keywords: Heritage, Cultural Values, Gardens and Parks, Laws and Regulations, Definitions, Criteria and Indicators
Introduction. The article examines the following important issues:
- Intellectual and spiritual potential - focus on the concept and spiritual essence in the creation and planning of the site;
- Scientific value - research, analyses, identifying of patterns;
- Aesthetic and artistic value - a subjective criterion for assessing whether the object is a masterpiece of human genius and is an outstanding example of a type of building, landscape architectural model or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history;
- Functionality and economic significance (economy and development, tourism);
- Ratio between modern and historical;
- Historical significance (on public, national and regional level). ^is aspect shows important interchange of human values in a certain age or a certain period of cultural development of landscape architecture. The objects bring unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is observed today or disappeared in the past. Assessing the impact on the country's history, social development, environment and others.
- Availability, location and interaction with society;
- Time durability - whether an object can be declared for a cultural monument or need to pass a certain period;
- Authenticity and level of conservation;
- Interaction with the environment.
Material and methods. After preliminary examination of all sites in the country were selected three parks that are the most typical examples of park & garden arts in Bulgaria and declared as cultural values, namely the park "Vrana" in Sofia, the park near architectural complex "The Palace" in the town of Balchik and the park "Maritza" in the town of Haskovo. The object of study are the basic theoretical criteria for evaluating the real cultural values of park & garden national heritage in Bulgaria. Surveys were carried out on the legal basis, principles and processes for the declaration of objects of park & garden arts for real cultural values. For preparation of this study are used different methods and approaches which warrant further to the conclusions and decisions. Achieving the main
goal is via the preliminary analyzes and studies of typical topic sites. The main test method used in this scientific work is the method of benchmarking. By applying of this method were compared to the selected samples of Bulgarian park & garden arts and the European and world cultural heritage. This enables:
- to establish which are most important according to accepted modern trends and understanding;
- to bring out certain similar characteristics, principles and laws in selected objects of study and to systematize in tabular form;
- to analyze the results and to bring in tabular form.
The survey of selected sites of national importance in Bulgaria started with the park at the palace complex "Vrana" in Sofia (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Panoramic views of the palace complex "Vrana" in Sofia
The main reasons for declaring the park as a cultural monument and protected areas are:
- preserved in authentic landscape composition;
- professionally planned composition of the alley network;
- valuable vegetation (Figure 2) - trees, bushes, grass and blooming. This vegetation unlike any other vegetation in other city parks is a unique value, equivalent to a museum exhibit. [2]
The declaration and provision of park status for the cultural value of national importance are related primarily to:
- historical significance (the period which reflects and individuals who participated in its construction)
- artistic value - landscape composition of alley network, spatial shaping and valuable tree species used in the construction of the park work. [3, 6]
It is never been made a comprehensive plan for the construction of the park. The construction works are implemented by sketches of individual specialists in different periods. The changes in the composition of the park implemented in various stages of its development are researched in details (Figure 3). The first stage is the construction of the royal house and the passage of the first alleys and most large-scale afforestation in the region. The second stage covers about 17 years of the history of the park during the period in which it acquired a complete finished look. The third stage is the time during which the landscape park was formed in composition point of view and were built two new ponds, the existing pond with lotuses was reconstructed and the park composition was supplemented with new paths and trails. Many new plants were imported for rock gardens and ornamental trees and
bushes groups.
Fig. 2. Valuable vegetation forms the spatial composition of the park "Vrana"
Fig. 3. Some analytical schemes for development of the park
The former summer residence of Romanian Queen Mary is located in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, at about 2 km southwest of the town of Balchik (Figure 4). There are impressive landscapes and coastline, near the sea, beautiful views, but most important is the abundance of water, which allows its construction and existence. It is not found any specific data on the years of landscaping individual terraces. It is assumed that some of the gardens adjoining buildings were created immediately after the completion of the villas and pavilions. In the publication [1] are distinguishes several separate park areas, commenting and stages of their development over the time. The main components characterizing this historic park are:
- preserved to a certain degree vegetation;
- authenticity alley composition and individual architectural elements involved in it.
Fig. 4. The park at architectural complex "The Palace " near the town of Balchik
The combination of many architectural and park elements, shaping the retaining walls and colored terraces behind them as water elements "creep" into the park, have turned the site into a single artwork. Shaped entirely in geometric composition and key structuring elements are relief, retaining walls, which determine the shape of the individual gardens on terraces and water features - river, canals, water mirrors, waterfalls. On its territory can be observed various influences - Byzantine, Moorish, Greek and Bulgarian [5]. Cleverly constructed walls, exquisitely sized balconies, platforms, stairs, and paid suitable ornamental plants and its combination with park elements make this classic object model to build flower beds in similar field conditions [4]. All this high artistic value of the garden.
Results and discussions. Follow the principles and methods of design, construction and development of the studied sites and their features from their creation to the present day makes it possible to theoretically clarify and identify some of the main criteria and their indicators that characterize them. Essential influence in the formation of these criteria are proved by:
- historical development;
- scientific and cultural value;
- artistic value (style, composition, harmony);
- degree of preservation;
- urban value;
- interaction with the environment;
- public importance.
These sites should be considered as an integral part of the historical development of society in various social and historical formations, as the course of the Arts directly influence economic conditions, class conflicts, religious, political and legal doctrines, culture, morality and aesthetic views.
Each park art work created in a given period, is distinguished by its style, composition, history, art and urban value. This criterion has cognitive significance and plays an important role in shaping the cultural and aesthetic public life. All park and garden sites are most favorable scientific material about the history, as an inexhaustible source of knowledge.
The development of art is closely linked to the development of culture, its prosperity or decline. This pattern is constantly accompanied comprehensive development of society. The term culture is a concept with many definitions and ambiguous because of this versatility and multiple layers subjected to hard single definition. Architectural and artistic image of any city is the result of the superimposition of different styles left their mark in the monuments of the city. Each work whether painting, sculpture, building, park or garden represents the artistic work of art and has its artistic value. This estimate is subject to analysis by precise analysis of the artistic qualities of a work of art. Modern
understanding of architecture is a general concept that incorporates a set of architecture of buildings, landscape architecture and urbanism.
The structure of the artistic work, determined by its content, character and purpose, largely determines its perception. The composition is the most important organizing element of artistic form which gives the work unity and obey its components to one another and to all.
Aesthetics involves assessing the creativity of the author to influence imaginations and sensation of perceiving a work of art. Category in aesthetics is just beautiful - identity between meaning and image, idea and form. Beautiful is unity - nothing can be added or taken away. It must be foreseeable.
Volume-spatial composition of the architectural facilities is created using the principles of symmetry and asymmetry, contrasting juxtaposition of elements include various rhythmic ratios details. Especially important for architectural composition having a proportion of the parts and the whole one another (expressed in a system of proportions) and the proportionality of the facility and its various forms with the man and also the organic unity of compositional and structural principles found their artistic expression in the architectonic of facility.
Based on these and other similar considerations is constructed a table with criteria and indicators for assessing the cultural heritage values in historical city parks in Bulgaria (Table 5).
Table 5. with criteria and indicators for assessing the cultural heritage values in historical city parks in Bulgaria
criteria indicators
1 artistic value style
composition
unity between the major components and elements
2 historical significance belonging to a certain period
connection with historical figures and events
3 authenticity and level of preservation preserved authenticity (integrity and authenticity)
relatively intact
saved enough elements
vulnerability
4 interaction with the environment interaction with the environment, establishing a connection and respect for the environment
5 scientific knowledge that gives us
6 urban develpmnet value location
spatial unity
economy and tourism
territorial scope - single or group
7 public importance (interaction with society) global significance
national importance
local significance
ensemble importance
for information
REFERENCES
1. Dyankova, V., L. Pentcheva, M. Chavdarova. Exploring the authenticity of the summer residence of Queen Maria near Balchik. HISTORY, 2012.
2. Fomina L., Park "Vrana" - History and Composition. Sofia, 2003
3. Gurkova, M. Protection and Socialisation Principles and Methods of Cultural Heritage in Forest Areas, PhD thesis, University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2016.
4. Kuleliev, J. Historical development of the park at the palace "Balchik ". Higher Institute of Forestry, Scientific Works, Volume 16, series "Landscaping": pp.33-41, 1968.
5. Lambov, A. "Balchik" Palace. Known and unknown, Varna ed. "Glory": pp. 15-25, 2004.
6. Stoycheva, M. A Spatial Method in the Park Design, PhD thesis, University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2016.