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061-0120-00L 2 Credits MSC D-ARCH

Digital Design Methods III

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Matthias Vollmer
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:51

Abstract

This course builds upon the foundational digital design methods I & II, expanding into data acquisition, modeling and visualization techniques. The final semester in this series focuses on integrating these skills into a cohesive workflow by combining archival sources with environmental and spatial data into a narrative.

Objective

By the end of the semester, students will be able to use digital survey methods as well as landscape modeling and visualisation tools. They will learn to curate collected data and material and digital models into a narrative presented through audiovisual media.

Content

This course introduces digital methods for documenting, analysing, and narrating landscapes through moving images. Working in parallel with the design studio, students will produce a short video work that engages with the site of their semester project. The video serves to document and narrate a research investigation of a particular site layer, material, or process. The course explores complementary ways of observing, recording, and interpreting landscape processes, whereby students develop methods for reading a site through different methods and perspectives, through field work, archival research, and digital tools of visualisation. The course focuses on fieldwork techniques in landscape architecture and their combination with archival sources and environmental and spatial data. Students will collect primary material during the field trip through a series of site-based exercises (i.e. vegetation surveys and close documentation of material conditions through photography or photogrammetry, digital terrain scanning, sound recording and atmospheric video samples). These recordings will be complemented and juxtaposed by archival research and sources. Through editing, composing and collaging, students will learn to combine heterogeneous materials such as filmed footage, scanned landscapes, botanical documentation, sound recordings, archival images, spatial and environmental data to construct a layered narrative and form their own critical position towards the site.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Digital Design Methods III
No course on 19.10.2026 (Seminarweek) and the last two semester weeks. Parts of the field instrument introductions will take place on the studio field trip. Room: HIL H 40.8 / LVML
No time listed 2 h weekly

Offered In

  • Landscape Architecture Master
    • Core Courses (The core courses build on the basic courses and convey basic, broad knowledge in the core areas of landscape architecture in relation to design lessons. Some of the core courses are compulsory and some are freely selectable. Further details, in particular about taking these subjects, for performance assessments and for compensating for failed subjects, are regulated in Art. 27 and Art. 31 Paragraph 4.)