Landscape Architecture ARCH 4319

Course description:

This course covers  understand the process through which landscape architects develop their design projects.Through lecture, observation, case study presentation and project work, students will gain an introduction into the theory and practice of landscape architecture.Explores a variety of themes that have their impact on how landscape architects have completed their design and on the manner in which these themes underpinning landscaping are translated into the physical environments. 
The course is by nature interactive, that is, it shows a combination of in-class lectures, hands-on projects, site visits and discussions, and a final project. The latter includes small-scale activities, as well as a longer project that will span multiple scales and methods of analysis, graphic representation, and design strategies that will culminate in a presentation of a conceptual design to a guest jury.

Course Aims:

The course aims at:
  • Introducing to the students the field of landscaping architecture, including its nature, overlapping disciplines, landscape elements and the design principles. Lectures, reading and problem-solving exercises provide a basic overview of historical, philosophical and technical aspects of the profession of landscaping architecture.
  • Exploring how landscape design, site environment and legislation might shape the design process and its outcome;
  • Learning about the fundamentals of landscape design, including line, colour, texture, form and shape, while being trained on how to draw graphic landscape planns necessary to communicate design ideas. 
  • Learning about the techniques deemed essential to improve line quality, lettering, sketching, rendering and drawing layout. Black and white and color media will be adopted.
  • Analysing surveying techniques and grading principles that are both integral tools to interpreting topographical information. Besides, this course content seeks understanding of natural and hardscape elements as well as landforms and design criteria. 

Course outcomes:

The students upon completion of this course are able to:
  • Gain a depth understanding of gardening used in the past and design with nature used recently, in addition to scope, and cultural contributions of landscape architecture.
  • Have a thorough knowledge of the process and products of landscape architecture, while helping the students to develop a critical thinking about contemporary issues accentuated in landscape architecture..
  • Develop presentation, written reports, besides graphic representational skills.