Heimat als symbolischer Aneignungsprozess - Konzeptionelle Überlegungen und empirische Untersuchungen

This paper makes a contribution to the recent discussion of "home", as it can be presently found in landscape planning and nature conservation. By means of theoretical considerations and empirical research a concept of home has been developed explaining the identification with the neighbouring social environment - as an expression of home - by symbolic acquisition processes. Empirical investigations with students illuminate the role of the social environment in gaining experience of home, the landscape elements which can symbolize places of home, feelings and emotions which are connected to places of home, and whether home places tend to defy rational perception. A further empirical investigation has revealed a close connection between "beautiful" landscapes and "home" landscapes. This result should remind nature conservation that the experience of home can be supported best by reinforcing planning arguments with concepts and measures of landscape aesthetics.