Course Title: Landscape Architecture Masters Design Research Project B

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Landscape Architecture Masters Design Research Project B

Credit Points: 36.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ARCH1485

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Jen Lynch & Alice Lewis

Course Coordinator Phone: Please email

Course Coordinator Email: jen.lynch@rmit.edu.au & alice.lewis@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 100.8

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You must have satisfactorily completed ARCH1365 Landscape Architecture Design Research Project A before you commence this course.


Course Description

In the final year of the Master of Landscape Architecture, you are given the opportunity to develop and explore your own practice trajectory through an independently generated, rigorous and sustained design research enquiry. This enquiry, undertaken across a full year, is referred to as ‘a design research project.’

Design research projects are undertaken as a means of exploring, critiquing and expanding landscape architectural practice. You are asked to develop, experiment with and refine alternative ways of approaching and/or designing landscapes. Design research projects are ideas-led, innovative and generative, necessitating critical engagement with the expanded roles and responsibilities landscape architects might have in local and global contexts. The design research projects developed in the final year of the Master of Landscape Architecture at RMT equip you to be an advocate and agent of change, actively advancing the discipline and profession of landscape architecture to meet the unique challenges of the 21st century. 

In this significant capstone course of the MLA program, you will synthesize the capabilities that you have developed throughout the program including analysis, critical thinking, communication techniques, formal techniques, and positioning within the discipline. You will develop skills to articulate, position and develop your design approach to prepare for entry into the profession.

In Design Research Project A, you developed a clear design research project proposal positioned within the field of landscape architecture and embarked on a rigorous and sustained design research enquiry. Design Research Project B extends from and builds upon this proposal through the ongoing development and formal refinement of your design research project at a range of scales. 

This rigorous and sustained design research enquiry is ultimately communicated and through a presentation, exhibition, and project document.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The capabilities that are developed through the program in which you are enrolled are described in the Program Guide.

Some of the Program Capabilities which will be developed through this course are:

  • Initiate, execute and situate substantial Landscape Architectural design research projects which demonstrate an engagement with urban and global complexities and an applied critical knowledge of the ecological, cultural, political, economic and ethical issues of Landscape Architecture
  • Generate innovative outcomes for Landscape Architecture design projects at a range of scales through a mastery of practice which synthesizes creative, critical, analytical, reflective and theoretical thinking skills
  • Effectively and fluently disseminate design research across disciplines to specialist and non-specialist audiences through a mastery of communication skills in a range of forms and media which shows a sophisticated understanding of the technical and theoretical frameworks of landscape architecture
  • Express a high level of personal responsibility within independent design research projects combining an ability to employ a range of design processes for the generation and evaluation of design research projects
  • Interrogate, question, engage and act in a broad range of social and cultural situations, and demonstrate effective teamwork and collaborative practices including an openness to others from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds
  • Evidence the capacity to be an agent for change and innovation in the profession of Landscape Architecture in local and global contexts and in wider society as a whole


Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

  1. Position the design research project ambition within the discourse of landscape architecture and in relation to a broader thematic.
  2. Collect, analyse and connect information including relevant reference projects, drawings, writing from Landscape Architecture or related fields to inform your enquiry.
  3. Develop and refine design techniques for purposeful and critical analysis, site forming and form making closely related to your project aims.
  4. Reflect on project ambitions and outcomes.
  5. Communicate the design research project within three distinct modes of presentation - the public presentation, a curated exhibition and a curated document of the completed body of work. 


Overview of Learning Activities

Research through design is conducted through a variety of modes. This includes group and individual activities, workshops, tutorials, intensive field trips, seminars, lectures, forums and demonstrations.

You will be expected to develop and pursue your own research as well as complete a range of design exercises throughout the semester. These design exercises may require multiple site visits and the demonstration of techniques of site analysis and documentation, design concept generation, design development, design resolution and design communication.

You are expected to engage with wider cultural discourses of creative practice. These include your peers, the community of practice in the program and the broader discourses of Landscape Architecture, Urbanism and Architecture.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your instructor, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning. The University Library has extensive resources for students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies. The Library provides guides on academic referencing: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

The assessment for this course is design project-based and comprises of a set of key milestone presentations culminating in a presentation, exhibition,and design document. At those milestones, you will be given formal feedback by your supervisor and/or an external critic to guide the development of your work. You will also receive informal formative feedback and guidance on a weekly basis from your project supervisor.

Assessment Task: Final Project B Submission

Inclusive of 3 parts: verbal presentation, exhibition layout (drawings and models) and design research document the submission is viewed as holistic project, 100% weighting. The final grade is based on a holistic assessment of how well you meet all the course learning outcomes (CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4 and CLO5).

Your work will be assessed by a review panel consisting of a Chair (your supervisor), an LA staff member and at least one external critic assess holistically across the three components. A moderation panel review the grades to ensure consistency across review panels - usually consisting of the course coordinator, program manager, associate dean, and a representative from another discipline in the school.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.