English designed landscapes were artificially organised around a series of desirable experiences. These included ‘promenades’, or places for walking, and vantage points where ‘prospects’, or views of the surrounding landscape, could be enjoyed from. In 1624, architectural theorist Henry Wotton emphasised the need to design these experiences into country-house estates. As Wotton described, it was important to satisfy the “usurping” sense of sight through the “Lordship of the Feete [and] likewise of the Eye”. ‘Promenades’ and ‘prospects’ not only influenced the composition of individual country-house estates, but also reflected the landowners’ unique attitudes towards the landscape. However, little analysis into determining the characteristics of both ‘promenades’ and ‘prospects’ at specific sites has been attempted. Investigations have been hindered by the destruction and modernisation of designed landscapes from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Whilst impeding our ability to understand how country-house estates were once experienced, the conditions of these sites today have also impacted upon our understanding of their appearance and development. Therefore, from my ongoing PhD research, this paper will demonstrate how 3D-GIS can change this.
By combining the capabilities of CAD and GIS, 3D-GIS enables 3D digital representations of country-house estates to be situated within their geographical and historical context. Using this advanced computational tool, different experiences can be spatially analysed within these virtually-recreated landscapes. Whilst animation technology can capture what was once observed along particular ‘promenades’, viewshed analysis can calculate the visibility of certain ‘prospects’. By interpreting these results using reception theory, the conclusions from this research can provide insight into contemporary perceptions of individual designed landscapes and the perspectives of the landowners who created them. This research will therefore demonstrate how 3D-GIS can contribute towards the study of designed landscapes but also how this multidisciplinary approach can benefit research into historic landscapes generally.