The representation of the orchard. Graphical analysis of the evolution of the horticultural landscape

Abstract

The representation of the orchard. Graphical analysis of the evolution of the horticultural landscape

The agrarian landscape and particularly the or- chard (huerto) is an inseparable part of the built environment, both historically and in the con- temporary context.

This research examines how the orchard has been represented over time, highlighting its physical and graphical loss, especially in the current con- text of urban pressure that threatens to erase its agrarian logic.

Inspired by the idea that telling a story, or drawing it, gives it existence. This study seeks to re- cover the “plot” of the huerto through its representation. A theoretical-practical methodology is employed, combining the analysis of written and graphic documents with the study of specific cases, spanning from Antiquity to the most abstract forms of contemporary expression, and incorporating the technological development of aerial photography and GIS.

A dual shift is observed, addressed through the concept dalla mappa vuota alla mappa piena, and vice versa; an evolution toward geometric precision accompanied by a loss of figurative richness capable of conveying intrinsic values.

This approach allows us to understand the or- chard and its landscape built environment as a living palimpsest with social, cultural, and productive functions, whose effective representation must balance artistic vision with technical accuracy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.35.2025.2