Sections of Every Thing

This course aims to discuss the possibility of sections, made and used in the practice of landscape architecture, as the mean of constructing urban artifacts that could eventually yield the alternative forms and experiences of nature. For this end, both the criticality and imaginariness of landscape sections are to be sought throughout diverse formats during the semester.

The word 'section' is defined as " any of the more or less distinct parts into which something is or may be divided or from which it is made up." in the Oxford Dictionary. As it suggests, a section is not an intellectual and practical property exclusive to this profession. Not to mention those related disciplines like architecture and urban design, experts in geology, physics, medical science, biochemistry and product design make and use sections as their critical mean of research and practice, from the scale of as big as six million magnification to as small as some million reduction.  Landscape sections sit somewhere in-between, both in terms of scale and precision.

The vertical realm of landscape architecture ranges from the crust (of the earth) to the atmosphere (of the earth), incomparably wide and vast. Therefore this profession must deal with almost 'every thing' between the crust and the atmosphere, making sectioning arguably the most important tool that can distinguish this discipline from others. Through making, using, representing sections that are critical and generative, enough landscape architects would be able to lead and involve both architectural and non-architectural professionals in order to create the alternative forms and experiences of nature within ever- increasingly complicated urban context.

This seminar is composed of two general parts: lectures by the instructor and the guests, and presentations by the students. Each class will be composed of one to one and half hour lecture of a speaker and two presentations by two students. Landscape architects whose sections show the criticality of their practices will be invited to speak. Landscape researchers are also to be invited to discuss how recent development in technologies; 'Point Cloud Modeling' for example, can enhance the precision and the richness of landscape sections. Non-architectural experts, such as a geologist and a product designer, are to present what sections mean to their researches and practices. Each student is supposed to make two presentations during the semester. No additional exams or papers will be required.

Evaluation will be based on the class attendance, participation, and presentations.

This seminar is open to all students of the GSD who learned the basics of making and using sections as a design tool through the GSD's core studios.