METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING STYLES OF HISTORICAL GARDENS AND PARKS
The article proposes the author's methodology for determining styles of historical landscape objects. Characteristic features, unique forms of processing natural components, architectural and decorative elements are identified for the main styles. They are summarized in the Matrix, consisting of two tables corresponding to two main stylistic directions - regular and landscape. They are given definitions. At the first stage, the fundamental stylistic direction of a landscape object is specified. The park's plan and variants of landscapesare analyzed. At the second stage, direct work with the Matrix is carried out. In a corresponding table, in each horizontal line coincidence of characteristic, possible and uncharacteristic signs is noted, that are listed in the columns. The only suitable style is identified by the method of exclusion by fixing uncharacteristic signs, as shown in the examples. In controversial cases, the identification of the correct option is determined by a simple majority of the characteristic and possible signs. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the uniqueness of the presented methodology.