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 together with DLB710 Landscape Design 6 will allow you to develop your professional level studies by undertaking a complex landscape design project. DLB730 integrates and applies previous and concurrent studies in landscape architecture theory and design at an expanded scale and complexity of program. It requires you to undertake an advanced conceptual and schematic design project developed through a series of sequenced exercises and presentation of a final design for the project, with emphasis on theoretical positioning, design process and rigorous design development.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop professional application of the skills and knowledge of advanced landscape design theory and practice required for the ethical and well-versed practitioner of landscape architecture.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate at an advanced level your understanding of landscape design theories and processes, and their potential application in the design for speculative and innovative landscape operations.


2. Demonstrate at an advanced level, the ability to effectively represent your design and processes through modelled, graphic, written and oral means.


3. Demonstrate at an advanced level, effective critical thinking and analytical processes to interpret problems.


4. Demonstrate at an advanced level, creative problem solving to formulate innovative design propositions to specific briefs.


5. Demonstrate at an advanced level, where and when appropriate, ethical conduct, collaboration and independent self-management and accountability.

Content

In this unit you will explore landscape design theories in the areas of landscape architecture, landscape urbanism, and landscape ecology. You will apply your understanding of these theories to the analysis of and design of highly resolved propositions.

In responding to the specificity of a selected site, you will develop the specific theoretical thinking and strategic design, and will also demonstrate advanced level design skills in the generation of detailed design communication and presentation techniques commensurate with professional-level landscape architectural practice.

In this unit you will explore landscape design theories in the areas of landscape architecture and landscape urbanism.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: a 1 hour introduction in week 5 plus 8 hours per week for 7 weeks
Lecture/studio combined.

Pin-Ups: WEEKLY regular individual presentation of work in progress will involve lecturer and peer review, and lecturer feedback.

Desk Critiques: Regular one on one critiques will provide ongoing advice on projects.

Presentations: Two work in progress reviews will be assessed in studio to a jury of the lecturer and guest design critics, and a final exhibition for the professional will be mounted.
The final works will be presented to an invited jury in addition to a publication designed to communicate the design thinking to a wider audience. All of these approaches develop sophisticated design skills in a collaborative professional environement.

Content will be supported by online resources but for effective skills development weekly participation in class exercises is essential. Additional work outside studio time will also be required in line with QUT guidelines. You will be required to complete at least a minimum of 2 hours of work for this unit in your own time for every hour of contact time: i.e. 16 hours per week for 7 weeks.

Learning Approaches:

Learning approaches will cover the following:
Problem-based learning through design process and a design project.
Individual learning through the completion of designated components of the design project.
Reflection through the use of peer-to-peer critique in the studio sessions.

1. Individual and group research, analysis and critical thinking skills, with research findings applied to landscape studies.
2. Theoretical/speculative practice: research and analysis of selected landscape operations.
3. Site analysis: research and presentation of a complex site.
4. Individual problem-based design research and the development of a detailed design.
5. Design process and presentations will assist in the development of skills in oral, written, graphic (manual and digital), 3-dimensional communication and exhibition required to communicate at a professional level.

Students are expected to attend studio with:
Any pre-requisite materials as set on Blackboard or in the lecture material.
Suficient resources to engage in creative/design processes.

Studio engagement required of students:
Independent learning is part of studio feedback.
Studio feedback and the work of other students is part of the unit feedback mechanism.
Weekly studio presentations and critiques are required as a continual part of the unit.
Prior units knowledge is to be applied in the unit.

Schedule:
The schedule may change up to and including in studio if circumstances are deemed necessary by the lecturer, tutor or QUT.

Site visit: You will need to participate in one or more self-guided field trips to your project site within Brisbane

Assessment

Assessment will be base on a design project which will address specific theoretical and design skills developed through the studio. These skills are to be additive over the semester. Summative assessment will be based on project design outputs, and will include detailed feedback using standards-based criterion-referenced evaluation.
It includes a site appraisal, your individual design strategic design developed in detailed. These are assessed for demonstration of achievement against three main criteria:
- understanding of the knowledge, ideas skills and processes underpinning the assignment;
- application of this understanding to a particular circumstance, and;
- your expression of this understanding and application in graphic, written and verbal forms.

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.Feedback will be given through regular critiques and pin-ups in class with lecturer and/or guest design critics, one and one guest critiques.
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 research to gain an insight in to both the qaulity of work and processes required within the studio.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Critical essay and seminar presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Design
Description: Research, site survey and analysis and design proposition submitted as a presentation
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Design
Description: Research and design proposition submitted as a presentation and a journal chapter for a coordinated publication
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of 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

Resources required will depend on the nature of the speculative design project and site selection. All references in previous course units remain relevant.

Other resource materials will be made available as appropriate through the unit Blackboard Site or at the QUT GP Bookshop.

Additional Costs
Consumable costs, typical of the preparation and presentation of project work, are to be expected. Ther are no other out of the ordinary additional costs associated with this unit.

Risk assessment statement

In this unit you will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit. The ASchool'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
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
  

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