Landscape architecture

Module aim

Through Green-blue landscape infrastructure planning project to provide students with professional guidance for gaining deeper skills of how to conceive ideas for the future physical alteration of the GBI system elements in an urban or peri-urban area in relation to its context. To advance understanding of how to define driving forces, lay out the planning process and decide on alternatives and the implementation of a preferred design solution. To use creatively the knowledge of GBI space in making proposals for the long-term development of urban landscapes, sites and areas. To develop deeper understanding of the role, context, qualities of urban open space design and management. Learn to analyse and identify the variety of values of a town district or block to maintain the existing and establish the new urban open space.

Module description

While elaborating the Green-blue infrastructure planning project in the relevant section, students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, understanding and develop professional skills in green-blue infrastructure (GBI) networks planning in urban, suburban and peri-urban areas. During project development, students learn how to use cutting-edge stakeholder engagement methods, the latest tools and solutions for maintaining and restoring water cycle, air and soil quality, and the vitality of the entire ecosystem. The project aims to create conditions for the abating of urban heat islands, the maintenance of the sustainable water management cycle, the reduction of pollution and noise, the protection and restoration of local plant vegetation, the improvement of soil and air quality, and other positive effects on the environment in the studied area. In the second part of the project, students learn to create sustainable design solutions for specific urban spaces (squares, parks, gardens) selected with the teacher by implementing the chosen GBI planning strategy, assessing the future use of the landscape, its cultural values, natural and urban context, specific features of plant systems.Students are required to attend at least 80% of studio lectures.

Module aim

A. to provide students with guidance for gaining adequate knowledge and understanding of a range of aspects of landscape theory and its application through the associated methods and to be able to apply this in a critical fashion in planning, design and management projects as well as in critical writing. The lectures give an overview of relevant landscape architecture approaches and methods, such as landscape systems, landscape character assessment, landscape layers, space syntax, landscape perception and other.B. to provide the students with professional advice for getting deep understanding of the most relevant research methods in landscape architecture through reading, analysing and presenting the ideas for a group discussion and debate. To develop knowledge of how to apply the research methods in a practice-oriented way.

Module description

This module consists of two parts: Advanced landscape theories and analysis (A), Research methodology for landscape planning and design (B). In A section, students deepen their understanding of the multi-layered nature of landscape and its natural diversity, using the theoretical and methodological tools from related disciplines. Students learn how to use creatively natural science theories and quantitative data processing techniques, information obtained through qualitative methods of social sciences for landscape planning and design. Students analyse how humanities methods are used to determine the changes of area development and cultural value change on individuals and social groups and how to use them, In B section, students deepen their skills to study and evaluate natural and human-influenced processes in the landscape. It is analysed how to assess these conditions by the selection of optimal methods of analysis of the current situation. Students develop the ability to use different strategies and research methods in order to have a targeted impact on the state of the landscape and to forecast the consequences in the short term and in the long term.Students are required to attend at least 80% of studio lectures.

Module aim

A. After completing this module, student should be able to conceive ideas in a collaborative way for the future physical interventions of a part of a local-regional food system in relation to its context. The goal is to develop adequate knowledge, understanding of food systems, to define driving forces, understand the planning process, decide on transformative actions, planning and design proposals.
B. To provide students with a deeper knowledge and understanding of sustainable energy in landscape planning, designing and management. The aim is to understand and to assess the impact of various types and technologies for renewable energy on the landscape, to gain knowledge, understanding and skills, and to safeguard a sustainable transformation of our landscape resources and infrastructure.

Module description

This module offers students electing two of two problem’s topics: productive landscape (a), landscape and sustainable energy (b). Topic A, Productive landscape concerns the current problems of foodscapes, food systems, short chains, food security. This module addresses the planning, design and management of sustainable foodscapes, integrating both environmental, social, and economic aspects of the productive landscape. It addresses the main challenges, theoretical frameworks, approaches and methods for sustainable food planning. It relates to the concepts of food security, food safety, food democracy and food justice and the way stakeholders and communities can address the challenges by participatory action research and living labs. It builds upon the work of the International Panel of Experts in Food Planning (IPES) and the Resource centre on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF). It includes mapping a food system, mapping the stakeholders, consumers, policymakers (power mapping), and carrying out a SWOT analysis. Students work on collaborative goal setting (applying the nominal group technique for systematic working); proposing transformative actions, developing scenarios, alternatives, and implementation strategies. It may relate to the relevant studio project. Topic B concerns Sustainable energy in landscapes and the corresponding landscape infrastructure. It provides insight in the technology of renewable energy systems and renewable energy infrastructure. It presents integrated planning approaches, methods and tools for a sustainable energy landscape and the analysis that it needs, such as energy demand and land use. Students analyse and discuss about the impact of infrastructure on landscape perception and environmental quality. The course covers implementation of international and national policies and legal framework for renewable energy. It may relate to landscape planning and design studio on a project that includes the sustainable application of ene

Module aim

The course aims to:
To test and upgrade student’s knowledge, understanding and design skills in the real-life situation in assessing and treating site environment and gain experience in multidisciplinary teamwork and participatory planning and design working methods. Extend students understanding in current topics of landscape architecture within international setting. Develop skills of communicating with others in multidisciplinary planning and design teams and with stakeholders in the process of landscape planning, design and management.

Module description

This module is planned for intensive landscape architecture workshop.
In the Intensive creative workshop (6EC), students examine the current changing topics of local, regional, global landscape architecture by preparing landscape planning, design and management proposals in an international environment during the summer or winter season. The module provides an understanding of current topics in landscape research, assessment, conceptualising and introduces the context of group work and participatory design and planning. Students work to strengthen their understanding and skills, especially in the areas of collaboration, self-awareness and strategic competencies. The module covers preparation for the workshop and post-workshop work.

Module aim

To provide a student with a complete set of advanced design knowledge and skills of taking into account a wide range of different systems and processes in urban areas and their inter-relation that define the configuration patterns of landscape. The aim is to produce an integrated development plan for the analysed area, considering aspects of landscape value and conservation and human well-being. To know and to deeply understand the concept and process of landscape planning in urban areas; to know and to interpret, in a critical way, the land management tools that make the landscape planning operational and efficient tool in integrated urban development process. Enable the future landscape architects to take part in the land use planning process in an integrated way. To learn to deal with issues more directly related with landscape spatial planning on different levels, also integrating the issues of environment and natural, cultural resources, built complexes, agriculture and forestry,

Module description

In the Integrated landscape systems studio (12EC) students focus on landscape land use planning and management processes in urban areas. Planning the analysis, goal setting and developing visions and masterplans for landscape based on a systems approach on a regional landscape level, students go through all planning phases from the start to the end based on the real regulatory framework and integrated view of urban spaces, built structures and infrastructure systems. It combines working on different scales and links the phases of planning, design and management. The module offers students to develop further their skills to address the problems on different scale – moving from big to average and small, and scope – taking into account variety of environmental issues and stakeholder’s preferences. The project runs in two phases: analysis and masterplan of complex landscape regeneration (1), design proposals for selected sites with landscape, infrastructure and built structures with a management plan (2). Students make use of the analysis of landscape layers, landscape processes, landscape character assessment and impact analysis. For the analysis, the DPSIR or equivalent methods for landscape analysis and process programming are applied. The students learn how to work on their own initiative, and tutors are acting as advisors.

Module aim

To provide students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the advanced landscape theories and possession of the specific methods, to develop a system thinking and teamwork skills. To select relevant tools for describing and analysing the complexity of the study area. To identify the main thematic layers needed for an interdisciplinary landscape assessment based on a sustainable development strategies. To be able to theoretically support the analysis of environmental and societal challenges in the natural and urban environment in an interdisciplinary way. To learn to use the results of analysis and identified values of the existing areas and urban districts as to find the optimal compromise between the needs of society, on one hand, and the natural values and potentials of these areas, on the other.

Module description

In the Interdisciplinary landscape research module (9EC) students deepen their skills for applying advanced theories and methods for information analysis of a given landscape, which address current challenges (climate change, flood risks, urban heat and loss of biodiversity), connected to a case study or an assignment. The assignment deals with analysis and conceptualising of natural, social and infrastructure landscape systems on a region, a city or an urban district levels and leads to interdisciplinary skills in advanced assessment and programming of urban and natural areas with a complex (re)development programme. To address challenges of society students train to work in interdisciplinary teams while students of different disciplines work on a development of a common area. It puts together knowledge and understanding of previous courses on bachelor level. Students develop skills needed for contributing to sustainable development of city-region including social cohesion, participation, accessibility and other policy instruments. The assignment is based on a policy and development programme that is developed by the student’s groups.

Module aim

A. Aim is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and understanding and develop skills for the planning and management of landscapes restoration. The aim is to provide understand of the driving forces of landscape degradation, to gain knowledge, skills, competences, and understanding how to restore degraded forest- agricultural, nature and urban landscapes and to improve the sustainability capacities of restored landscapes.

B. Aim is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and understanding and develop skills of landscape development underlining the perspective of sustainable recreation and tourism. Student will have a complete knowledge of how a wide range of different systems and processes in recreation and tourism and their inter-relation define the configuration of landscape on different scales and levels of complexity.

Module description

This module offers students electing two of two problem’s topics: landscape regeneration (a) and landscape for sustainable recreation and tourism (b).
In topic Landscape restauration and recovery students examine the causes and consequences of landscape degradation in different areas. Students learn how to identify the driving forces acting on various scales of landscape quality deterioration that are related to economic activities, climate change and other challenges. Students develop knowledge and develop insights into current landscape restoration technology. The lecturers explain the importance of restoring different types of landscape, such as degraded natural landscape, forest areas, agricultural, urbanized and peripheral areas. Students develop skills in the application of integrated planning methods, landscape restoration tools that include stakeholder participation. It explains the specific legal framework, management and sustainability aspects of landscape restoration and the implementation of such programmes.

Module aim

The module aims to provide the graduate with the opportunity to develop advanced personal and team skills for taking the lead in addressing multiple landscape architecture challenges and producing the final thesis.

Module description

During the preparatory phase of the Final thesis students analyse recent landscape planning, design and management methods and practices, legal acts, projects and erected objects by using the previously learned and tested methods for information analysis. Current practices for landscape management in natural and urban context are analysed.