Design Studio V-IX: Topic (M.Voser)

Abstract

Rethinking Landscape StructuresThe semester explores new ways of dealing with infrastructure projects and exemplary climate adaptations of the Swiss cultural landscape.

Objective

Designing landscapes and processes The primary goal of the studio is to project landscape. This entails the constant oscillation between territorial relationships and local actions - between landscape space and place. Due to the dynamics of their constituent elements such as soil, water and vegetation, landscapes change their dimensions and character with cycles and time. Designing landscape consequently means thinking in and designing systems and processes. 'Reading' a landscape, its space-defining planes, and the processes and forces that shape them is as much a focus of teaching as designing. Thus, an intensive examination of our understanding of landscape and our relationship to nature goes hand-in-hand with the semester. Students are challenged to come up with their own definition of landscape - a term that includes image and concept as well as pragmatism and romanticism. Because of the complexity of territory and task, the iterative design method is followed, oscillating between designing and analyzing, and between large and small scales. Developing an attitude, crystallizing the specific themes, and choosing the appropriate design tools are as much a part of the work process as designing the transformation processes. Parallel to the landscape design, the students get to know landscape architecture as one of the instruments with which today's questions can be answered. Because these increasingly demand different answers - systemic thinking, designing processes, accepting change and a differentiated landscape vocabulary are prerequisites for this. The joint trip of several days to La Chaux-de-Fonds is an indispensable part of the semester and will take place from 03.03. in the evening to 05.03. in the evening.

Content

Designing landscapes and processes The primary goal of the studio is to project landscape. This entails the constant oscillation between territorial relationships and local actions - between landscape space and place. Due to the dynamics of their constituent elements such as soil, water and vegetation, landscapes change their dimensions and character with cycles and time. Designing landscape consequently means thinking in and designing systems and processes. 'Reading' a landscape, its space-defining planes, and the processes and forces that shape them is as much a focus of teaching as designing. Thus, an intensive examination of our understanding of landscape and our relationship to nature goes hand-in-hand with the semester. Students are challenged to come up with their own definition of landscape - a term that includes image and concept as well as pragmatism and romanticism. Because of the complexity of territory and task, the iterative design method is followed, oscillating between designing and analyzing, and between large and small scales. Developing an attitude, crystallizing the specific themes, and choosing the appropriate design tools are as much a part of the work process as designing the transformation processes. Parallel to the landscape design, the students get to know landscape architecture as one of the instruments with which today's questions can be answered. Because these increasingly demand different answers - systemic thinking, designing processes, accepting change and a differentiated landscape vocabulary are prerequisites for this. The joint trip of several days to La Chaux-de-Fonds is an indispensable part of the semester and will take place from 03.03. in the evening to 05.03. in the evening.

Resources