Landscape in transition: valley bottoms in Bauru - SP

Abstract

The landscape of valley bottoms in Brazilian culture is characterized by conflicts, challenges, and latent potential. This research aims to examine the contemporary transformation processes affecting these open spaces in Bauru, São Paulo, by investigating possible alternatives to mitigate socio-cultural, environmental, and urban issues. The study supports a transition from so-called lost landscapes to productive landscapes. Aligned with global debates on climate change, food security, demographic growth, and sprawling urban expansion, the research is grounded in the intersection of governance and public policy, civil society, planners and managers, and the disciplinary field of Landscape Architecture itself. To structure the investigation, an exploratory study was conducted using the case study method, drawing on multiple sources of evidence—including bibliographic and documentary materials, as well as direct observations—that enable movement between temporal and territorial scales, fostering alternative approaches to landscape interpretation, planning, and design.