Architecture, Landscape & Visual Arts

Unit Outline

History and Theory of Landscape Architecture

LACH1010

SEM-1, 2015

Campus: Crawley

Unit Coordinator: A/Prof Christopher Vernon

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Unit detailsUnit title History and Theory of Landscape ArchitectureUnit code LACH1010 Credit points 6Availability SEM-1, 2015 (23/02/2015 - 20/06/2015)Location Crawley Mode Face to face

Contact detailsFaculty Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual ArtsSchool Architecture, Landscape & Visual ArtsSchool website http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/Unit coordinator A/Prof Christopher VernonEmail christopher.vernon@uwa.edu.auConsultation hours To be AdvisedLecturers Name Position Email Telephone Number

Christopher Vernon Unit Coordinator christopher.vernon@uwa.edu.au 6488 1565

Tutors Associate Professor Christopher VernonContact details as per above.

Unit contact hours Lectures: 2 hrs per week; tutorials: 1 hr per weekLecture capture system LCS is implemented for this unit.Online handbook http://units.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/units/LACH/LACH1010

Unit descriptionThis unit surveys the history and theory of landscape architecture, predicated upon the belief that knowledge of this subject is essentialto a landscape architects capacity to responsibly create places appropriate to our own time. It examines key places and figures whohave defined the intellectual and creative possibilities in landscape architecture, temporally ranging from antiquity through to thetwentieth century. The unit does not consider designed landscapes in isolation. Alternatively, they are examined as encapsulating widercultural concerns. In concert with an overview of Western design traditions, the unit also addresses Eastern approaches as expressedin India, China and Japan.This unit surveys the history and theory of landscape architecture, predicated upon the belief that knowledge of this subject is essentialto a landscape architect's capacity to responsibly create places appropriate to our own time. It examines key places and figures whohave defined the intellectual and creative possibilities in landscape architecture, temporally ranging from antiquity through the twentiethcentury. Attention is also given to climatic changes since these historical landscapes were originally created. The unit does notconsider designed landscapes in isolation. Alternatively, they are examined as encapsulating wider cultural concerns. In concert with anoverview of Western design traditions, the unit also addresses Eastern approaches as expressed in India, China and Japan.

Learning outcomesThis unit explicitly focuses upon embedding students research abilities by studying shifts in the theoretical and practical (e.g.technological) approaches of landscape architects throughout the period covered, as exemplified in selected design case studies. Thisis assessed via a verbal presentation and a 1500-word written essay (including footnotes and bibliography). The unit explicitly focusesupon embedding communication skills by (1) the development of competent writing skillsstudents acquire competency in essaystructure, referencing and bibliographical conventions; (2) oral presentationsstudents demonstrate competency in the verbal andvisual presentation of a landscape architectural case study and analyse it in relation to its social, intellectual and historical context; (3)critical information literacy skillsstudents determine relevant information sources and interpret them competently to develop anunderstanding of concepts related to the cultural and theoretical contexts of some key landscape architectural projects and theirdesigners; and (4) interpersonal skillsstudents demonstrate skills in listening to and responding to arguments in relation to themeaning and intentions of key landscape architectural concepts and works, through participation in interactive seminars anddiscussions.

Unit structureThis unit comprises two lectures and one tutorial per week. All lectures will take place in the Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts (ALVA) building, room G.22, on Wednesdays, from 3.00 until5.00 pm. Tutorials will take place for one hour in ALVA, room 2.05 on Tuesdays at 0900.

Unit schedule

Week Date Lecture Topic Readings (from Jellicoe text) Tutorial1 - 25 Feb Wednesday Unit Introduction2 - 03 Mar Tuesday Tutorial2 - 04 Mar Wednesday The Ancient world, Egypt & Meso-America pp. 10-19, 108-114, 98-105.

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3 - 10 Mar Tuesday Tutorial3 - 11 Mar Wednesday Greece & Rome pp. 116-137.4 - 17 Mar Tuesday Tutorial4 - 18 Mar Wednesday The Middle Ages & Islam pp. 138-153, 40-47.5 - 24 Mar Tuesday Tutorial5 - 25 Mar Wednesday China & Japan pp. 68-97.6 - 31 Mar Tuesday Tutorial6 - 01 Apr Wednesday Renaissance Italy pp. 154-177.7 - 14 Apr Tuesday Tutorial7 - 15 Apr Wednesday Renaissance France pp. 178-191.8 - 21 Apr Tuesday Tutorial8 - 22 Apr Wednesday Mughal India pp. 48-55.9 - 28 Apr Tuesday Tutorial9 - 29 Apr Wednesday The English Landscape Garden pp. 232-247.10 - 05 May Tuesday Tutorial10 - 06 May Wednesday The United States of America pp. 278-283. ESSAY DUE11 - 12 May Tuesday Tutorial11 - 13 May Wednesday The Modern Landscape pp. 285-343.12 - 19 May Tuesday Tutorial12 - 20 May Wednesday IN-CLASS TEST IN-CLASS TEST13 Non assessment week

AssessmentAssessment overviewTypically this unit is assessed in the following way(s): (1) tutorial presentation; (2) short essay; and (3) end-of-semester examination ortest. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Assessment mechanism

# Component Weight Due Date1 Tutorial Presentation 20% Weekly Schedule2 Essay 50% Week 10 - 06 May3 In-Class Test 30% Week 12 - 20 May

Assessment items

Item Title Description Submission Procedure for AssignmentsTutorialPresentation

Students, working in groups, will make a 20 minutetutorial presentation on a designed landscape case studyor theme taken from one of the lectures. Yourpresentations are to be illustrated via PowerPoint. Theallocation of lectures will be made by your tutor in theweek 3 tutorial. The presentation will be assessed on thebasis of clarity of description and evidence of widerreading and research (presentations are not to be simplya summary of the lecture).

Essay Students are required to select either a landscape designkey case study for analysis or a research question fromthe list below.

Essay Case Studies (Option 1)

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (Egypt) The City of the Gods: Teotihuacan (Mexico) The Acropolis of Athens (Greece) Hadrian's Villa (Italy) The Alhambra (Spain) Classical Gardens of Suzhou (China) Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens (Japan) Villa Lante (Italy) Bomarzo (Italy) Vaux le Vicomte (France) Versailles (France)

Essays are to be submitted no later than 4PM on thedesignated day to the Resource Room and should notexceed 2500 words, preferably typed, double spaced, onA4 paper. There are computers available on the fourthfloor in the Faculty for this purpose.

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The Taj Mahal (India) Humayan's Tomb (India) Castle Howard (England) Blenheim Palace (England) Monticello (USA) Central Park (USA) Park de la Villette (France)

Essay Questions (Option 2)

Define and discuss the ancient Greek and Romanconcept of 'genius loci' or 'spirit of the place'.

In what ways might the Taj Mahal be described assymbolising paradise on earth?

Andre LeNotre's design of the garden at Versailles isoften said to be symbolic of the human desire to controlthe natural world. Do you agree with such aninterpretation? Why or why not?

What are the specific ways in which the designers ofEnglish landscape gardens drew upon the idea of thenatural world in the 18th and 19th centuries? In addition,discuss what social functions the gardens served.

In the view of Frederick Law Olmsted, why is it importantthat cities include public parks? What role did parks play?

Essays are to be submitted no later than 4PM on thedesignated day to the Resource Room and should notexceed 2500 words, preferably typed, double spaced, onA4 paper. There are computers available on the fourthfloor in the Faculty for this purpose. Concise, well-supported arguments are necessary rather than length ofargument. Your essay will be assessed on the basis ofyour ability to articulate a coherent, well researched andconsidered response to the chosen topic. Morespecifically:

Coherence and Consideration in Argument andResponse Organisation Analysis and background to the question Clearly Stated Thesis Consistency of Argument

Quality of Research Extent and number of references Appropriateness of references

Clarity of Presentation Clear and correct grammar and expression Adherence to Submission requirements Use of scholarly conventions in referencing.

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In-ClassTest

Students will be given images of case studies discussedin lectures. Students are then to identify andcontextualise the projects and their designers. They willbe required to write, in essay format, a critical responseto one of a choice of questions, drawing upon the casestudies. Assessment will be based upon clarity of writinga response, along with evidencing a broad understandingof the key concepts introduced in the unit, and anawareness of significant projects discussed in thelectures and in the readings, and the historical contextsand the issues and ideas pertaining to them.

Textbooks and resourcesRecommended textsGeoffrey and Susan Jellicoe, The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day (London: Thamesand Hudson Ltd, 1987).Charles W. Moore, William J. Mitchell, William Turnbull, The Poetics of Gardens (Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1988).Philip Pregill and Nancy Volkman, Landscapes in History: Design and Planning in the Eastern and Western Traditions (New York: JohnWiley & Sons, Inc, 1999).Patrick Taylor, The Oxford Companion to the Garden (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).

Other important informationEnrolled students can access unit material via WebCT (Moodle from 2012)

Enrolled students can access unit material via the LMS in units that use LMSBuilding clean-up and folio collection (for units with folio submissions)Studios are expected to be left clean and tidy. Drawing boards are to be cleaned. Students must remove all personal propertyimmediately after the submission of their folio. If the content of a folio is used for exhibition then the student must write their name onthe back of the work so that when the exhibition is demounted collection is simplified. If staff or the Faculty wish to reserve work forreproduction and/or accreditation purposes then this should be negotiated with individual students.

AttendanceAttendance is required at all lectures, tutorials and workshops. These are the primary means of consultation with your Unit Coordinatorand Teaching Assistants. Do not expect questions relating to content missed through unjustified absence to be answered. Additionally,it will be assumed that students have read all relevant course materials.Authenticity of workFor Studio units, the Faculty may prevent your continuation in this unit if you fail to meet requirements for attendance atclasses to establish the authenticity and originality of your work. SubmissionsThe ALVA Submissions policy is available at:http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/students/policies/Submission of Late WorkAll assessment tasks are due no later than 4pm on the date indicated in the unit's Assessment Mechanism Statement, with theexception of in-class assessment items such as tutorial presentations. Any assessment task which is submitted after the timeindicated in the assessment mechanism statement without a formal approved extension will be considered LATE and appropriatepenalities will be applied. Information on penalties can be obtained in the Faculty Policy on Submissionsat http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/students/policies/.ExtensionsThe Faculty approves extensions only in exceptional circumstances in order to ensure that all students are treated fairly and thatsubmission date schedules, which are designed to produce ordered work patterns for students, are not disrupted. Extensions may beauthorised only by the allocated Faculty Course Advising Office or a delegated representative. In all cases, requests for extensionsrequire the submission of Special Consideration form no later than three University working days after the due date.Students are encouraged in the strongest possible terms to familiarise themselves with the Faculty Policy on Extensions availableat http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/students/policies/.Return of Student WorkMarked assessments submitted on time will be made available for collection by students at least one week before the next assessmentin the unit is due (if it is related to the previous assessment), or no more than four weeks after submission, whichever is sooner.

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Special ConsiderationFor information regarding special consideration please go to:http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/course/exams/consideration

Faculty Safety Inductions

The ALVA Health and Safety Induction (Part A) must be completed online by all students enrolled in a unit taught by the Faculty. Thisonline module is available for self-enrol via LMS. Completion of the Part A induction will ensure after-hours access to the ALVA Building(including computer labs) is enabled.The ALVA Workshop Induction (Part B) runs in Week 1 of each semester, and must be completed if the unit involves use of theWorkshop. Your Workshop Induction lasts for five years, after which you will be required to attend a refresher. Please refer tohttp://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/students/facilities for more information on Inductions and Workshop close-down period.

Material and Equipment CostsCosts specific to individual units will be communicated to students in this unit outline or early in semester.All sites will require students to wear protective helmets; students needing to purchase a certified protective helmet may do so fromAlsafe Safety Industries Pty Ltd, 177 Bannister Rd Canningvale. Students must wear appropriate clothing when visiting building sites;open toed shoes and sand shoes will not be accepted and students will not gain entry to site with these shoes. The sites also requiresteel capped boots to be worn this is a condition of accessing these sites. These can be bought from Army Surplus stores orborrowed, they are a worthy investment as will be required on future building sites of your own.

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Unit detailsContact detailsUnit descriptionLearning outcomesUnit structureUnit schedule

AssessmentAssessment overviewAssessment mechanismAssessment items

Textbooks and resourcesRecommended texts

Other important information