Landscape Park Kazdanga – the Treasure of Latvian Garden Art
ECLAS 2014 Conference "Landscape: a Place of Cultivation": Book of Proceedings 2014
Silvija Ozola

Kazdanga (Katzdangen) estate’s building complex and Latvia’s largest landscape park takes a special place in history of Latvian garden art. Since 1533 properties in Kazdanga were managed by von Manteuffel-Szoege family. At the end of the 18th century the first greenery was planted on banks of Alokste River. By using plans of St. Petersburg architect Antonio Domenico Giacomo Quarenghi (1744–1817), a typical Palladian classicist mansion was designed in 1800 by architect Georg Berlitz (1753–1837) for Baron Karl Gustav von Manteuffel. The oldest part of picturesque park was cultivated after 1809. On Alokste River a mill-lake was formed and greenery landscape was enriched. In 1873 the first Kazdanga’s fish ponds were made. In the second half of the 19th century a dendrologically richest Šēfera Grove and Valātas Park (1890-1914) on the edge of the Ancient Valley of Alokste River were cultivated. Buildings and landscape elements were tied in a single composition, taking into account natural features – terrain and water bodies. Park Kazdanga revealed developing process of park ensemble, understanding of changes in plant compositions and park landscape during the 19th century. During two hundred-years Park Kazdanga was mostly extended and expanded, it was transformed little. Scenically rich environment gives material for cultivation ideas and inspiration for creative activities. Park Kazdanga planning has been studied by landscape architect Ilze Māra Janelis. The aim of the research: to obtain new information about planning composition and plantings of Park Kazdanga and to develop the theoretical framework of further evolution of Park Kazdanga and its surroundings. The main results: the research provides valuable information for local territorial development plans, focusing attention on cultural values and regional identity. Material and methods: the study is based on research and analysis of cartographic, archive, and photo materials, as well as inspection of Park Kazdanga greenery.


Keywords
environment, garden art, regional identity, landscape, park
Hyperlink
https://skyros-congressos.pt/eclas/ECLAS_CONFERENCE_PORTO_2014-Book_of_Proceedings.pdf

Ozola, S. Landscape Park Kazdanga – the Treasure of Latvian Garden Art. In: ECLAS 2014 Conference "Landscape: a Place of Cultivation": Book of Proceedings, Portugal, Porto, 21-23 September, 2014. Porto: School of Sciences, University of Porto, 2014, pp.464-464. ISBN 978-972-96076-7-7.

Publication language
English (en)
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