LAND7272 - LANDSCAPE TECHNOLOGY I

UNIVERSITY

University of New South Wales (UNSW, Sydney)

TEAM

Chair: Dr Carlos Bartesaghi Koc

PROGRAMME

Master of Landscape Architecture

PERIOD

Semester II-2018

STUDENTS WORK

Cintia Herkrath, Shi Chen, Wenchan Fu, Jiaoyang He, Rossana Ho, George Huang, Rang Jia, Chenyu Wang, Chang Xu, Sen Yang, Jiaxi Zhao.

Landscape performance: materials and fabrication

Introduction

This course develops the knowledge and ability to address the technological challenges of constructed ecologies, their construction systems and methods, and their performance using the ‘ecosystem services approach and systems thinking’. The material focus is on landform, water sensitive urban design and green infrastructure. Techniques of tree planting, grading, earthworks, and fluid drainage are explored. Digital modelling and fabrication are used to increase student's capacity to communicate and test design options; the digital models developed in this course are integrated into the concurrent studio project.

The main aim of this course is to develop students' design ability by engaging with landscape materials and construction techniques. The second aim of the course is to enable students to predict and anticipate future scenarios of landscape conditions and material performance by using digital modelling as a means for testing and developing design propositions.

Methodological approach

This course is structured to support the concurrent landscape architecture design studio. Students are guided through methods of digitally testing and developing their design propositions. The course structure encourages capacity for independent and collaborative learning. Specific teaching strategies include seminar discussions, lectures; small group tutorials, workshops, studio work, peer-review and tutor led assessments.

The lectures, studio-based tutorials, guided site visits and assignments approach the designed landscape from the ‘ecosystem services and systems thinking perspective’. The design process relies on ecological knowledge to inform, inspire, and shape the designed landscape as a combination of ‘living systems’ that change in space and time. The development of ‘Landscape typologies’ –as the main focus of the course– is explored for landscape performance analysis (from the concurrent design studio) through the application of materials, fabrication techniques, earthworks/landforms, water sensitive design, green infrastructure, and climate-related strategies.

Skills in landform manipulation, wetland construction, stormwater management and tree planting for climate and habitat health are emphasised and integrated into the design agenda. Projects incorporate digital modelling as a means of testing design solutions.

Assignment 1. Case study in landscape materials and landform design

This assignment will develop your skills in identifying, investigating, generating, and evaluating information relating to contemporary landscape materials, construction techniques, and landform design using a best practice case study in the city of Sydney.

Students will consider and undertake the following:

Students will work in groups to analyse a case study in terms of high performance landscape materials and landform design and their integration in constructed ecologies.
In this report you will investigate different materials and assemblage techniques (so you can explore the possibility of using construction details). You should consider aspects such as performance, durability, sustainability, buildability, cost, maintenance, etc.
Students should consider and analyse the design intent and performance analysis of materials in terms of different ecosystem services, landscape processes and systems. Consider the following questions: Which materials were used (properties, types)? What was their intent/function for a specific place? Which ecosystems services do they provide (i.e. habitat, recreation, climate regulation, etc.)? How do these materials perform/work altogether?
Students will identify and analyse different topographic/landform designs and their intention.
The report must include written commentaries on materials, construction techniques, and landform analysis accompanied by drawings, sketches and/or digital models to illustrate and explain their performance and construction.

Assignment 2. Final project: A landscape typology

This assignment will further the initial investigations and research into the construction or design of a landscape typology with a specific ‘design intent; resulting from landform manipulations and a combination of materials, structural elements, assemblage/fabrication techniques, and their technical, visual and verbal communication.

PART A. Typology construction

Students will construct/design a series of landscape typologies with specific ‘design intents’ using the extent of the con-current design studio (LAND7302) as context of application. Proposals will consider and undertake the following:

The inventory of typologies should consider different combination of materials, arrangements and types of structural elements, landforms and topographic solutions (slopes, earthworks), construction techniques, etc. Each typology should be designed for one or several specific purposes.
The illustration of landscape processes or systems implemented (water, energy, plants, materials, etc.) by each typology.
Water sensitive design strategies: drainage, water management, bio-remediation, etc.
Tree planting arrangements and types/species of plants.
Different type of paving, hard surfaces, soils, lawns, etc.
Street furniture designed for specific purposes (i.e. pergolas, misting fans, benches, lighting systems, etc.).

PART B. Typology implementation + oral presentation

In the second part of the assignment students will be able to inform and integrate the proposed landscape typologies into the con-current Design Studio (LAND7302) by developing specific components in detail and by conducting a brief performance-based analysis of typologies in terms of landscape processes and systems. Proposals will consider and undertake the following:

Indicate the specific context where typologies will be applied in the con-current Design studio. (Do not forget to include a summary of the typologies developed in Part A)
Performance analysis of typologies in terms of: habitat/biodiversity, climate regulation, recreation, aesthetic/visual impact, food production or any other ecosystem service of your preference.
Construction details of the most representative typologies.
Spatio-temporal typology dynamics: propose short- and long-term scenarios considering changes over space and time (i.e. flooding, vegetation phenology, vegetation growth rates, ephemeral versus perennial uses, etc.).