Cities and the Palimpsest: An Analysis of Urban Landscape in China Mievelle’s The City and the City

Abstract

In order to communicate about the idea of landscape different concepts can be employed. The study identifies how the layers mentioned in the novel The City and The City are represented in a minimalistic way. However, they not limited to geological construction, rather they encompass endless transformations and modifications in the past as well as the present to restore memory. The cities presented in the novel have an urban structure, which is produced by certain overlapping elements in different historical eras. The earth being a Palimpsest tablet encompasses different layers of history and cultures in terms of architecture. Maintaining a dialogue between past and present is essential for a citizen’s sense of identity this article uses examples from the city of Ul Qoma and Bezel that were influenced by factors such as industrialization and capitalism, to describe the phenomena of layering and preservation in terms of ideas, experiences and values.