This seminar explores contemporary landscape architecture in Northeast and Southeast Asia to envision the future of sustainable design. The central question of the course is: when a designer stands before a site, “mountain and water,” charged with accommodating programs and pressures, in the changing climate, how do they respond? Students are invited to understand landscape architecture as the materialization of such a response. The class will meet with field- leading practitioners and scholars every week and learn from their methodologies.

The seminar begins with the concept of “mountain and water”–shanshui in China, sansui in Japan, sansu in Korea–a Sinographic compound rich in artistic and philosophical meaning across Asia, reflecting traditions that combine vital elements of dynamic landscapes. Landscape architecture as a modern profession developed differently across regions, shaped by local traditions and specific socio-political and economic changes. Initially, landscape architecture in Asia emerged as states undertook large-scale projects to shape nature for specific social purposes, closely tied to political boundaries and modernist ideals.

The seminar moves beyond a nation-state framework by focusing on bioregions–areas defined by geography, ecology, and cultural patterns–reflecting how landscape challenges cross political borders. As climate change demands broader solutions, a transnational, bioregional perspective is needed to address issues spanning over 50 sovereign states in Asia.

By mid-semester, each student will select a landscape architect and a bioregion where the designer has completed a project. Students will analyze the designer’s responses to their chosen bioregion through readings, interviews, project documentation, and lectures. The semester’s final work will be a 1,500-word paper and a deep, comprehensive section drawing, representing the results of their semester- long research.

The seminar welcomes students from all degree programs. Please refer to the course syllabus for more detailed content of the course.

Note regarding the Fall 2026 GSD academic calendar: The first day of classes, Wednesday, September 2nd, is held as a MONDAY schedule at the GSD. This course will meet for the first time on Wednesday, September 9th