Landscape Morphology

The studio will focus on the transformation of a former airfield into a metropolitan park over a 10-year period with landscape as a medium between infrastructure and urban planning. The studio approaches landscape design through topographic systems that register a more ecological urbanism in relation to existing and proposed infrastructures. The goal is to redefine the notion of the fixed master plan towards a more elaborate and flexible design process. Three-dimensional topographic maneuvers will unfold operational strategies in terms of hydrology, planting, circulation, and public events. Working with CNC technology offers an interesting analogy to landscape architecture. Milling is a subtractive process where material is taken away from a uniform foam block. This is similar to the way landscape is modified and sculpted: earth is also subtracted or displaced. The CNC proceeds from a rough to a fine surface as bulldozers do in digging, terracing, and leveling the earth. The output of the studio will include: Foam models with the 3 axis mill, videos, axonometric, phasing diagrams, plan, sections, etc. Knowledge of Rhino, Mastercam, landscape ecology, grading, and topographic design, are prerequisites. Studio will be on Mondays afternoon and Tuesdays. The site is located in Toulouse, France. Landscape as medium between infrastructure and urban planningCourse Objectives and Outcomes: The studio approaches landscape design through topographic systems that register a more ecological urbanism in relation to existing and proposed infrastructures. The goal is to redefine the notion of the fixed master plan towards a more elaborate and flexible design process. Three dimensional topographic maneuvers will unfold operational strategies in terms of hydrology, planting, circulations, and public events. Course format: Foam models with the 3 axis mill, videos, axonometric, phasing diagrams, plan, sections. Working with CNC technology offers an interesting analogy to landscape architecture. Milling is a subtractive process where material is taken away from a uniform foam block. This is similar to the way landscape is modified and sculpted: earth is also subtracted or displaced. The CNC proceeds from a rough to a fine surface as bulldozers do in digging, terracing and leveling the earth. Method of Evaluation: 2 intermediate juries and a final jury. Prerequisites: Knowledge in Rhino, Mastercam, landscape ecology, grading and topographic design