Money Grows on Trees
GSD 9206LA, Fall 2004

Independent Research Study: Money Grows on Trees

Purpose:
This seminar is based on the thesis that contemporary landscape projects, which create visually appealing environments (enhancedis the buzz word), promote economic gain for the private and public sectors.

The seminar participants explore this subject through researching modern-day private and public landscape projects, on a small and large scale. They examine the ability of various commercial, residential, and civic projects to attract and sustain inhabitants, consumers, tourists, and businesses. The seminar participants present their findings in both written and graphic forms.

The results found through the seminar serve as a resource for developers, city planners, and public officials involved in building our environment, in order to prove the financial value of landscape enhancement. The outcome of the seminar is a publication.

Process:
The seminar proposes to:

1. Guide students in researching contemporary landscape projects and in examining their economic effects.
2. Have students formulate their own topics to research, supporting, or possibly contradicting, the thesis that landscape enhancement has yielded economic prosperity.
3. Have each student present examples, readings, studies, etc. from their research through visually compelling graphic forms.
4. Bring in guests for lectures and discussions on the topics at hand, and for critiques of the studentswork.
5. Present the information gathered in a format designed to be easily accessed and understood by the public.

Results:
The Seminar compiles a source for identifying, analyzing, and comparing different models of landscape design, and the economic gain or loss that they have created. The seminar collates and illustrates their results to be accessible and understood by all. The ultimate goal is to create an advocacy tool to be used by official and unofficial users, organizers, supporters, and those involved in the determination of the built environment.

The information collected through this seminar is eventually part of a collaboration with Bruce Mau Studio and Smith College to create an influential visual and written presentation. The eventual product of this collaboration is valuable in gaining and attracting support, financial and otherwise, for designing and implementing new private and public landscape projects.