senseslandscapes

Senseslandscapes is an interdisciplinary concept that describes landscapes as experienced through the full range of human senses rather than solely through sight. The term encompasses multisensory perception, including auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory, and proprioceptive aspects, as well as temporal and contextual factors such as mood and memory. It is used in geography, anthropology, architecture, landscape design, and cultural studies to analyze how places are felt and valued.

The approach treats landscape as a dynamic field of sensory encounters, where soundscapes, odorscapes, and texture contribute to place meaning. It recognizes how culture, climate, and history shape sensory expectations, and how different groups may experience the same place differently.

Methods include multisensory observations, sensory mapping, interviews and diaries, participatory workshops, and analysis of environmental media (sound recordings, scent logs). The goal is to articulate how senses generate attachment, memory, and behavior, and to document variation across users and contexts.

Applications include urban design and policy for more livable environments, preservation of heritage landscapes, and the creation of restorative, accessible spaces. It supports inclusive approaches that consider people with sensory impairments and cultural differences in sensory valuation.

Critics caution that sensory experience is subjective and culturally contingent, making universal claims difficult. The field emphasizes reflexivity and complementary quantitative data where possible, and situates senseslandscapes alongside related topics such as sensory geography, soundscapes, and olfactory ecology.