Summary

This class explores how to design and make physical landscapes that are both rationally constructed and expressively convincing. This search is focused through the lens of structural understanding. This lens clarifies how a working knowledge of structural principles guides the tectonic development of made landscapes from the overall material configuration of, for example, footbridges, pavilions or walled enclosures, to the evolution of specific detail and jointing vocabularies for these and other site elements.
 

Topics

• Understanding structural principles using a visual, non-mathematical format.
• Designing and applying structural principles to physical making using the categories of: to span, to frame and to enclose.
• Exploring the dialogue between the “truth” of structural rationalism and the “facts” of a convincing structural rhetoric of landscape making. This is a study of the interrelationship of vector, surface, mass and structure.
• “Trace del la mane”: structure and the craft of joining.

Course Objectives & Outcomes

• To understand and be able to structurally shape physical landscape forms.
• Be able to engage in a productive dialogue about landscape making with other design professionals.

Course Format

• Lecture/Workshop.
• Lectures explaining structural principles accompanied by in class workshops applying these principles.
• Case studies of landscape structures presented and critically discussed in class.

Method of Evaluation

• In-class participation in discussions
• A graphic case study of an existing landscape structure

The design of a landscape element – a part of a current or previous studio or professional projectThere are no prerequisites for this class. Students of all GSD disciplines who are interested in the physical design of landscapes are welcome.

MLA 1 and MLA 1AP students can take this class concurrently with GSD 6242.