Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit is your first introduction to the design studio within a landscape architectural context. It will lay a foundation upon which later studios will build. Skills in designing landscapes are acquired in stages, covering a range of theory, principles and practice which are applied to real or simulated situations. The first skill building stage in this studio is your immersion in and familiarisation with existing landscapes. You will then apply basic design principles in problem solving and articulate these landscape design resolutions using suitable representational techniques that may include those introduced in the allied unit DEB103 Visualisation 1.

Aims

This unit aims to introduce you to fundamental landscape architectural design principles and approaches, specifically:

1. existing urban landscape architecture design resulting from design or other interventions;
2. a range of inspirational landscape forms;
3. basic landscape architecture design language and principles; and,
4. landscape architectural design graphic presentation methods.

Objectives

Within the design studio, learning outcomes are interlinked.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. demonstrate at an introductory level the ability to effectively represent your design outcomes and processes through modelled, written, graphic and oral means;


2. demonstrate at an introductory level, knowledge of design principles and theories, and their application;


3. demonstrate at an introductory level, effective critical thinking and analytical processes to interpret problems;


4. demonstrate at an introductory level, creative problem solving to formulate innovative design propositions to specific briefs; and


5. demonstrate where and when appropriate, ethical conduct, collaboration and independent self-management and accountability
.

Content

Topics covered in this unit include:

• Landscape architecture; design and practice


• Design language, design elements, design as action: the studio context


• Landscape types and scales


• Landscape art and nature: inspiration and meaning


• Exemplary landscape design: recognition and discernment


• Landscape design problem solving

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode:
Total contact hours per week: 4
'Lecture': 1
Studio: 3

The unit is delivered as a combination of:

• Upto 1 hour briefing, discussion and showing precedents and other useful exemplars;


• Studio classes of minimum 3 hours each per week comprising:

1. In-class, hands-on workshops where you undertake tasks using different design and communication techniques to explore landscape design concepts and;
2. Discussion and review, of projects in progress with tutors
Assessed exercises and projects for you to complete outside class, developed from the themes of the studio.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on three projects (a portfolio of observations and a series of design projects). Each of the projects will use specific skills developed through the workshop activities. These skills are to be additive over the semester.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.During the studio classes, you will receive formative verbal feedback from tutors. Each project will receive written summative feedback in relation to a series of criteria.

Students are also expected to actively participate in the studio environment, and gain feedback from the body of work produced across the studio. In addition, students are to undertake independent review of written and digital resources to gain an insight in to both the quality of work and processes required within the studio.

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: Assessment Item No. 1A Undertake a series of exercises to find, record, reflect and analyse designed landscapes in the Brisbane CBD, and package these findings into a a neat portfolio of words and imagescollages.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Early Sem (studio)

Assessment name: Portfolio - Detail
Description: Assessment Item No. 1B
Small one-day design charrette to design an urban landscape detail. Package as a poster presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4, and 5
Weight: 5%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Early Sem (studio)

Assessment name: Design
Description: Using the measured drawings created in DEB103 Visualisation 1, this intervention is a small landscape architecture design project related to city function and installations.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Exhibition
Description: 'Representing Landscapes' is a work of imagination and experimental visualisation that integrates Urban Landscape architecture within Architecture and the city to be packaged as a presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There is no set text for this unit. However, this book is highly recommended and available from our QUT-GP library:
- Waterman, Tim (2009). The Fundamentals of Landscape Architecture. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Publishing.


A Graphicacy Resource is online, via Blackboard that explains basic skills. On an ad-hoc basis students may be given readings via CMD or through the unit's Blackboard online learning site as the semester progresses.

There is a wide range of professional, design and expert literature available at the university and via other external resources. Students are to avail themselves of reference material from literature, and digital sources to meet there design needs.

strong>Materials:
The following materials are suggested (The KIT), though further suggestions for materials will be given prior to the classes where they will be used:

• Retractable cutting knife


• 300mm Metal ruler


• Scale Rule


• Cutting Board or Thick Card (2mm)


• 2B Pencil \ Mechanical Pencil and leads


• Eraser


• Black Artline felt pens 0.2mm, 0.4mm and 0.6mm


• Colour pencils or other colour drawing media


• Tracing Paper (A3 book)


• Bond Paper (A3 book)


• cheap unwaxed greaseproof paper (roll from supermarket)


• Magic sticky Tape


• Masking tape


• Glue


• Portfolio case (Minimum size A3)


• Thumb tacks or Pins (in small case-for pinning up work in studio)

Students are expected to attend studio with:

Any pre-requisite materials as set on Blackboard or in the lecture material.

Sufficient resources to engage in creative/design processes.

Risk assessment statement

You will be required to undertake studio sessions in the studio rooms under the supervision of the tutors. Instruction will be given on using any dangerous equipment, such as retractable blade cutters. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to all studio sessions.

The unit will may require you to partake in a supervised field trip, either in or around Brisbane. A risk assessment for the trip has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safely guidelines and you'll be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending. Failure to do so may result in the awarding of a failing grade for the unit.

J-Block Workshop inductions
Any use of the workshop will require a student to have successfully completed both the QUT and J-Block Workshop inductions and have received the appropriate sticker. These will allow you access to the workshop only. They do not allow operation of the majority of tools and equipment in the workshop


If both inductions have been completed, the next level of workshop access requires the following:

• Present the drawings/sketches of the sketch design to a J-Block staff member for determination of equipment that may be required before using any equipment in the workshop. (NOTE: the student must have sketches prior to any meeting with the workshop staff)
  
• Attend and complete any equipment inductions as required by the J-Block staff (this may require a booking for a session on anther day and students should be prepared with sufficient time to allow for scheduling of any sessions). Delays due to workshop induction scheduling are not a grounds for extension
  
  

Model Making

The unit will require you to partake in modeling and other basic fabrication procesess. A risk assessment for the trip has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safely guidelines and you'll be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions. Failure to do so may result in the awarding of a failing grade for the unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 05-Oct-2012