APL8025 : Experimental Landscape Architecture I (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Usue Ruiz Arana
- Lecturer: Ms Stef Leach
- Owning School: Architecture, Planning & Landscape
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 40 |
| ECTS Credits: | 20.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Experimental Landscape Architecture I and II are the research by design modules that culminate the creative and theoretical enquiry undertaken by students throughout the Master of Landscape Architecture.
This module aims to:
• To develop advanced research by design knowledge and skills to generate complex place-based design proposals that demonstrate rigorous understanding of landscape architectural issues, originality in the application of subject knowledge and, where appropriate, to test new hypothesis and speculations.
• To develop an ability to evaluate and apply a comprehensive range of visual, oral and written media to test, analyse, critically appraise and explain design research
• To showcase student's design positionality and problem-solving skills: what are the principles that they stand for and that will guide their future professional lives, and how to use their acquired knowledge and skills to implement those principles
Outline Of Syllabus
Experimental Landscape Architecture 1 is the first of two modules that constitute the Design Thesis, a comprehensive research-led landscape architectural proposition. Both modules in conjunction provide an opportunity for students to develop research by design skills to an advanced level through the design of a complex landscape architecture project.
This module synthesizes all the theoretical knowledge and design skills that students have learned through the Master and advances specific research by design skills. Students are introduced to creative practice research methods, research by design enquiry and contemporary issues in landscape architecture, through a series of lectures and practical exercises. The module is organized into a series of design studios that run alongside the lectures and address themes relevant to contemporary landscape architecture practice and the ethos of the programme (landscape architecture for planetary health and well-being). Theme and content of the design studios reflects staff’s core research strands and interests, and changes regularly. Students work within one of the design studios on a selected specialist theme and site through an individual major research by design project. Group tutorials, individual supervision and formal reviews are conducted to support and monitor progress.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 8:00 | 8:00 | FInal exhibition and crit |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | Lectures on research by design and creative practice methods in Landscape Architecture. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Interim crit in small groups |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 8:00 | 48:00 | Tutorials (research by design) in small groups of maximum 8 |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | Workshops to put into practice research methods introduce through lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 314:00 | 314:00 | Independent study and project work |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Research by design brief and introduction of design studios |
| Total | 400:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Through lectures and workshop exercises, students will be encouraged to test a variety of creative methods to develop their creative responses to the landscape issues identified within each design studio.
Weekly tutorials in groups and an interim group crit allow students to discuss their work with a tutor and peers and to critically reflect on their work and progress. Tutorials will also provide feedback from tutors and peers, and aid to monitor progress. Written feedback is provided following the interim crit.
The design studio pedagogy is centred on a dialogic and responsive approach to students’ own creative work and research. Landscape Architecture pedagogy is reliant on a high proportion of independent learning to support the design thesis. The MOF hours are consistent with this approach.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | A | 100 | Design Thesis statement:dissertation in portfolio format to include critically reflective text alongside creative practice work. To be accompanied by a public exhibition |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
As part of the design thesis exhibition and statement, students produce:
• Creative practice work: research by design visual, oral and written work that includes critical reflection on fieldwork, design strategies and design actions.
• Thesis statement to contextualize the work within current landscape architecture debates and provide a theoretical framework to drive the design. The innovative and exploratory nature of the module is recognized in the liberal guidelines offered with regards to the form of the dissertation. As a guide, the thesis should include: engagement with literature, theoretical framework, design positionality, methodology, and critical analysis in relation to issue and place-based design. The written statement should be no less than 5,000 words (half of a conventional 40 credits dissertation). The thesis statement demonstrates the ability to design and undertake research to the rigorously high standards of robustness required within the UK.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- APL8025's Timetable