Studio Project - Transforming Urban Landscapes
The course deals with urban transformation in its spatial sense, but also about the actions, the actors, the motives and the site-specific potential; all contributing to urban landscape change through various administrative, judicial and economic conditions for spatial planning and how these are altered over time.
The method is to synthesize various learning activities included in the course into a design proposal and process for how to conduct change of urban landscapes over time with the support of landscape, planning and design theories and their contemporary developments.
The course comprises independent studio work, site explorations (compulsory), lectures, literature seminars (compulsory), tutorials, and open discussions of work progress (compulsory). The project carried out in the course actualize future landscape-associated issues, such as the impact of climate change, deep adaptation of socioecological systems and facilitation of complex processes and stakeholder constellations cross scale and various temporalities. The project concludes with new proposals for planning methods as well as scenarios for the transformation of the chosen site.
Teaching formats:
To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used such as studio work, site explorations (compulsory), lectures, literature seminars (compulsory), tutorials, and presentations to report on the studio work's progress.
The course focuses on the following generic competencies: information competence, critical thinking, problem solving, oral communication, teamwork and creativity.
Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through the main assignment being an actual planning task which is executed in collaboration with the municipality and stakeholders at the site. Other examples are guest lectures from practitiones.
The course gives 15 credits of skill training in the degree of master of science in landscape architecture
Information from the course leader
The urban landscape is changing rapidly in front of our eyes. Large areas of post-industrial heritage are retrofitted into generic urban districts with little or no consideration to the site's specific qualities or conditions, resulting in immense resources being wasted.
What if there are other ways of transforming these sites, and what if such “other ways” also holds lessons for city building's engagement with the Global Sustainability Goals and transformations of urban landscapes in general?
In this course the concepts of “planning” versus “design” are scrutinized as well as the concepts such as “transformation”, “change”, “site” and “site specificity”. How are these concepts interpreted in contemporary landscape architecture? In what ways can design approaches in planning influence sustainability and have effects on the transformation of urban landscapes? What kinds of techniques for exploring site-specific qualities are available to us? And how do we convey and represent change actions that are beyond the conventional masterplans?
The course is built around one assignment that you will work towards from the very start, to develop a proposal for the transformation of the post-industrial landscape of Ifö Center in the town of Bromölla, Sweden. In addition to working on this assignment different learning activities are offered with the aim of feeding into the main assignment, such as methods for site explorations, literature seminars, lectures and workshops, stakeholder interviews etc.
A course book with most of the information that you will be needing will be available for you on the course's canvas page prior to course start.
We are really looking forward to collaborate with you!
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
LK0442 Studio Project - Transforming Urban Landscapes , 15.0 Credits
Studioprojekt - Transformation av urbana landskapSubjects
Landscape ArchitectureEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0001 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 150 credits, of which 90 credits in one of the following subjects:• landscape architecture
• architecture
• landscape planning
• built environment
• design
• spatial planning
• geography
• landscape science
• environmental science
• civil and environmental engineering
and an approved portfolio accordning to specific instructions. Find more information under Additional information.
OR 150 credits from a Landscape Architecture programme at SLU or an Erasmus partner university.
and
English 6 or equivalent.
Objectives
The purpose of the course is to train yourself in understanding urban landscape change and how transformation processes can be designed with specific attention to site-specific qualities and conditions, complex stakeholder constellation, and various temporalities.
After completion of the course, the student should be able to:
• critically innovate on Swedish and/or international planning systems with regards to historical and contemporary consequences of urbanization
• apply inter- and transdisciplinary design thinking on actual planning situations and graphically and verbally communicate proposals and reflections
• discuss planning operations and landscape change in relation to societal change of a political, economic, environmental, social and technical character.
Content
The course deals with urban transformation in its spatial sense, but also about the actions, the actors, the motives and the site-specific potential; all contributing to urban landscape change through various administrative, judicial and economic conditions for spatial planning and how these are altered over time.
The method is to synthesize various learning activities included in the course into a design proposal and process for how to conduct change of urban landscapes over time with the support of landscape, planning and design theories and their contemporary developments.
The course comprises independent studio work, site explorations (compulsory), lectures, literature seminars (compulsory), tutorials, and open discussions of work progress (compulsory). The project carried out in the course actualize future landscape-associated issues, such as the impact of climate change, deep adaptation of socioecological systems and facilitation of complex processes and stakeholder constellations cross scale and various temporalities. The project concludes with new proposals for planning methods as well as scenarios for the transformation of the chosen site.
Teaching formats:
To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used such as studio work, site explorations (compulsory), lectures, literature seminars (compulsory), tutorials, and presentations to report on the studio work's progress.
The course focuses on the following generic competencies: information competence, critical thinking, problem solving, oral communication, teamwork and creativity.
Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through the main assignment being an actual planning task which is executed in collaboration with the municipality and stakeholders at the site. Other examples are guest lectures from practitiones.
The course gives 15 credits of skill training in the degree of master of science in landscape architecture
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
The course team and examiner will evaluate the quality of assignments carried out by students, and their ability to engage each other in critical and analytical discussions. Specifications of compulsory attendance and assignments are given at course start.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
Students admitted to Landscape Architecture – Master´s Progamme 2011-2019 are eligible for the course.Students admitted to Landscape Architecture – Master´s Programme (LAM) 2020 and following years are eligible for the course if a portfolio is approved.
Find portfolio instructions on: [https://www.slu.se/lam-portfolio/](
Responsible department
Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management