Rural linear settlement structures as a typological response to distinct settlement factors: climate, topography, landform, social structure and demography. A discussion based on the analysis of the Pannonian Basin

Abstract

Linear settlements are present in many rural regions in Europe: from England in the North to Italy in the South, from France in the West to Ukraine in the East. Although the villages vary widely in form and age, as well as in circumstances of their development - from historically grown to planned settlements - the distribution of linear settlements in their general area of distribution area suggests that there are specific conditions that favour their occurrence. While there are linear settlements alongside canals or streams, as well as villages arranged along features such as village greens (Dorfanger), the most basic form of linear settlement is the street village (Straßendorf). It has a uniform urban parterre structure that serves all essential settlement tasks, such as dwelling, working, supply, recreation, worship, and traffic. To date, there is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the preconditions for the development and spread of those linear settlements. Through a morphological analysis of relevant urban design factors our research will fill this knowledge gap. To start with, this paper offers first results and insights into analyses of linear settlements in areas of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The study is embedded in a recently initiated larger research project concerning the transformative potentials of linear settlement structures in the European area. Besides results, that are to be understood as first approximations, a short historical overview on the most important milestones of local settlement development in the study area is given. Furthermore, morphological analysis of relevant factors, local typologies and patterns of buildings and settlement structures as well as specific spatial qualities of villages are addressed with regard to the genesis of the investigated linear settlements.