705-235 Designing the Middle Landscape

705-174 Designing the Local Urban Landscape or equivalent; 705-171 Landscape Graphics or equivalent knowledge of basic graphics skills and admission to the Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture. An understanding of fundamental ecological processes is assumed. Students who have previously completed subject 705-235 are ineligible to enrol for this subject.

This studio-based subject explores landscape and urban design principles and processes at the scale of a whole neighbourhood. Techniques of site analysis and evaluation are applied to the investigation of a current project. Students are then introduced to design and planning principles and techniques appropriate to the design development of a neighborhood with interrelated open space(s). Students are expected to support their work with well-researched documentation based upon theoretical readings.

On completion of the subject students should be able to:

• Know how to conduct multilayered landscape analyses at a neighborhood scale.

• Formulate design strategies which respond sensitively to environmental and social underpinnings.

• Understand the imperatives and impacts on the landscape of the urbanization process.

• Apply research and analysis to the process of landscape design.

• Demonstrate skills facilitating entrance into professional landscape practice.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:

• Critical and analytical thinking.

• Ability to seek out, evaluate and retrieve information from multiple sources.

• Comprehension of complex concepts.

• Lucid expression of complex concepts orally, graphically and textually.

• Presentation skills.

• Team work skills.

• Time management skills.

Progressive assessment of project and written work, equivalent of not more than 5000 words. Field work exercises are required as necessary adjuncts to the project work. Assessment is staged over the semester as follows: 1 Field Work Investigation Project (30%) [Weeks 1-5]; 1 Major Design Project in 3 stages (65%) [Weeks 6-13]; Class Participation throughout the semester (5%). Participation in class presentations is compulsory.