LUP-12306 Integrated Studio: The Metropolitan Landscape

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Assumed knowledge on:

LUP-11303 Introduction Landscape Architecture and Planning: Theory, LAD-23312 Landscape Geography

Contents:

Building on the foundations of the foregoing courses a multidisciplinary team of lecturers uses a range of didactic means in order to sensitize students for a comprehensive approach to the Dutch landscape. The geography, planning and architecture of Dutch landscape opens up a window on the analysis, planning and architecture of metropolitan landscape. Basic knowledge about the soil, surface- and ground water, vegetation and the history of the landscape are being applied in the context of a planning and design task in the western part of the Netherlands. The integrated studio and its related field trips challenge the students to synthesize disciplinary knowledge and skills and develop an integrative attitude apt for spatial planning and landscape architecture. Regional soil science, hydrology, landscape ecology and historical geography are taken as exemplars for knowledge transfer from the domain of environmental sciences into the domain of landscape planning. Additional disciplinary input comes from a wide range of disciplines such as ecology, economy, geo-information sciences, policy sciences and human geography. This multi- and interdisciplinary approach is used for the development of unifying concepts in landscape research and design.
The studios, debate, essay and field trips take the Randstad-Green Heart Metropolis or Delta metropolis in the western part of the Netherlands as a focal point. The studio especially addresses the regional and local scale. References to the actual planning process are taken from ongoing planning and design processes such as Nota Ruimte, national ideas about the ecology (EHS), water management, economical development, the Green Heart policy, development of the district of Leidsche Rijn in the western part of Utrecht. Core concept is the unifying concept of metropolitan landscape - pointing at the need for innovative interpretations in the domain of rural and urban planning.
A special assignment is this course is writing an individual essay. During the course each student has to collect data about history, soil conditions, nature and landscape planning in their place of birth or actual place of residence. Doing this they are tempted to interpret the data with the help of the theoretical building blocks presented to them in the classes and the literature. Based on data taken from local or regional reports, papers, statistics and field surveys they perform a case study and write an essay individually. An important activity after finishing the essay is the discussion about other essay' s in small groups.
During the course the lecturers have special attention for the development of scientific attitude of each student.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of the course a student has gained:
- basic skills and knowledge required in domain of planning and design process;
- insight into the role of maps in planning and design;
- basic skills in map making on different scales;
- basic skills in writing and criticize an essay;
- basic skills and attitude in team-work;
- basic knowledge, skills and attitude in communication, presentation- and debate techniques.

Activities:

A multidisciplinary team of lecturers uses a range of didactic means. The students will:
- work on several practical exercises in analysis and design at different scales;
- take part in several field trips;
- take part in debate sessions about actual environmental issues;
- write an individual essay;
- review the essays of other students.

Examination:

The grading is based on the results of the group work, the individual essay, and an individual evaluation of the attitude during the course work.

Literature:

Study materials that will be used:
- Selected parts of the book by Marjan C. Hidding, ' Planning voor stad en land' . Uitgeverij Coutinho; derde, herziene druk 2006. ISBN-10: 90 469 0014 2;
- The book: ' Anticiperend landschapsbeleid Deel 1: Drijvende krachten' ; J.A. Klijn, F.R. Veeneklaas; Alterra rapport nr. 1557.
- The book: ' De Rode Draad, Continuïteit en verandering in Veldhuizen Vleuten-De Meern'.
- Frank Berendse. Natuur en landschap in Nederland. KNNV, 2010.