Assignments Seminar Concepts of Landscape 2010
Assignment 1: Pictures of our landscapes
Task
Assigned: Tuesday, Oct. 5
Due: Tuesday, Oct. 19
This first assignment in our joint seminar aims at introducing to each other in which landscapes our universities are located in. In order to do so make pictures of “your” landscape. Looking at a picture of a landscape limits our perception to our visual sense. But together with the knowledge and experience of each of us, a picture gives us several hints about a landscape’s physical, cultural and economic characteristics.
Start this assignment with a brainstorming in smaller groups first to find out what the most significant aspects of your landscape might be. Then go out and make pictures. Select the three you find best to communicate important aspects of this landscape to the other participants. Corresponding with the pictures prepare a brief text that explains what the three pictures can tell us about this landscape. Also prepare a short oral statement about the chosen pictures you will then give in the first joint online session.
Please note: The term “landscape” is not equivalent with a rural setting. This seminar is based on an understanding which embraces urban, suburban as well as rural settings.
Deliverables:
- Three pictures in jpg format, uploaded as demonstrated on the seminar WIKI AND sent in high resolution for Vitero presentation to Heike heike.kaiser(at)gmail.com by Oct. 18
- Brief written description, 400-500 words; first written as pdf, doc or rtf file, then copied, pasted and edited on the seminar WIKI (s. a.) as demonstrated by Oct. 18
- Oral statement of 5 minutes about the chosen pictures for the online meeting on Oct. 19
Evaluation criteria:
- 60% Content: delivery of products assigned, appropriateness of pictures to illustrate the addressed aspects;
- 40% Communication: structure/logical flow, professional terminology in oral presentation, and written statement.
Groups
Clemson, USA
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Uruguay
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Tartu, Estonia
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Nürtingen, Germany
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Kassel, Germany
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Assignment 2: Landscape transect
Task
Assigned: Tuesday, October 19
Due: Monday, Nov. 8
The pictures you have made for assignment 1 gave a brief overview of the landscape of your university town. In a second step you will now take a closer look to get a more in depth understanding of the forces which ‘shaped’ the current landscape. To start your documentation and interpretation, walk a complete transect from the city/town center to the edge of the settlement and examine what you see. Beside a visual documentation, further background information is necessary, for example about ecological, social, cultural and economic aspects, design interventions, etc. which you can’t get with a visual examination. Looking back into the past of the landscape gives you additional insight into how and why the landscape has transformed over time.
Explore and analyze your landscape transect by making notes, taking pictures, and - very important - make video clips that document your walk. This can be done with a video camera or with the video function of your photo camera. Further review relevant literature about this landscape, browse the www, talk to people living in the area, etc.
Create a video that can illustrate the findings of your exploration. This should address the current state of the landscape, its change over time and an outlook to the future. Address what challenges this landscape faced over time. How did landscape architecture address them in the past, what approaches seem necessary for the future?
You will present your results in two forms: First you will show a video of your transect exploration. This should be able to illustrate the aspects you will focus on in your presentation afterwards. In this presentation (ppt or similar) you will underline your analysis and findings with maps, sections, diagrammatic drawings and other forms of documentation and interpretation.
Literature:
As a major reference for your analysis look at the following book:
- Corner, James; MacLean, Alex S. 1996. "Taking measures across the American landscape". New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press.
Further literature which will help you with your reflection:
- Jackson, John Brinckerhoff. 1980: "By way of conclusion. How to study the landscape" In: The necessity for ruins, and other topics, 113-126. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.
- Meinig, D. W.. 1979. "The Beholding Eye: Ten Versions of the Same Scene." In: The Interpretation of Ordinary Landscapes: Geographical Essays, edited by D. W. Meinig and John Brinckerhoff Jackson, 33-48. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Meinig, D.W.. 1979. "Reading the landscape. An appreciation of W.G. Hoskins and J-B. Jackson." In: The Interpretation of ordinary landscapes: Geographical essays, edited by D. W. Meinig and John Brinckerhoff Jackson, 195-237. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Sieverts, Thomas. 2003. Cities without cities. An interpretation of the Zwischenstadt. English language ed. London: Spon Press.
Deliverables:
- 7-10 minutes video, uploaded on youtube by Nov. 8 (Nov. 15 for Kassel students). Each student group is responsible to establish a youtube account and provide the seminar group with the internet address of the video as demonstrated AND additionally send the link to Heike heike.kaiser(at)gmail.com for illustration on seminar presentation slides
Please be aware: Uploading a video file of 10-15 minutes length can take up to a day! So take care to have your video done early enough to have it uploaded on time!
- 10 minutes presentation, including maps, sections, diagrams, pictures, etc.; please send your presentation (as ppt.zip or pdf) to Ellen ellen.fetzer(at)hfwu.de by Nov. 8 (Nov. 15 for Kassel students).
Evaluation criteria:
- 50% Content: depth of analysis and reflection; clearly communicated findings, creativity in the process of analysis, delivery of products assigned;
- 25% Communication of content: ability of the video and presentation to illustrate the major aspects of the analysis; structure/logical flow, written and spoken language;
- 25% Graphic quality: visual quality, organization, cohesiveness of layout, craftsmanship.
Groups
Clemson, USA
Students: Please write your names here....
Video link: Please add your youtube.com link here
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Uruguay
Students: Please write your names here....
Video link: Please add your youtube.com link here
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Tartu, Estonia
Students: Please write your names here....
Video link: Please add your youtube.com link here
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Nürtingen, Germany
Students: Please write your names here....
Video link: Please add your youtube.com link here
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Kassel, Germany
Students: Please write your names here....
Video link: Please add your youtube.com link here
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Assignment 3: Future landscapes
Task
Assigned: Tuesday, Nov. 9
Due: Tuesday, Nov. 29
In a third assignment the focus is on the future of landscapes. You will discuss recent and upcoming approaches, problems, phenomena, policies, and goals. Based on this you will give answers to questions such as:
- What is a desirable landscape for the future?
- How does it look like?
- What is the contribution of the landscape architecture profession to get there?
In order to learn more about differences and similarities between the different countries participating in this seminar concerning current issues and the future of landscapes, this assignment will be done in internationally mixed groups. There will be groups with students from Estonia+Germany, Germany+USA, Estonia+USA, Uruguay+Germany, Uruguay+USA, etc.
The groups will prepare a presentation, addressing the above mentioned questions along one case study from each of the countries they represent.
Base your work on literature provided on the seminar website, given by your instructor and own search for literature and case studies;
Literature:
As one major reference for your reflection look at the following book:
- Sieverts, Thomas. 2003. Cities without cities. An interpretation of the Zwischenstadt. English language ed. London: Spon Press.
Specific literature, maybe related to the discussion in the individual countries, are availabe here.
Deliverables:
- 7-10 minutes presentation briefly introducing case studies and conclusions as input for the joint discussion; please send your presentation (as ppt or pdf) to Ellen ellen.fetzer(at)hfwu.de for upload in Vitero by November 29.
Evaluation criteria:
- 50% Content: depth of analysis and reflection; clear communication of findings, creativity in the process of analysis, delivery of products assigned;
- 25% Communication of content: structure/logical flow of spoken language and slides;
- 25% Graphic quality: visual quality, organization, cohesiveness of layout, craftsmanship.
Groups
Group 01
Students: Please write your names and universities here....
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Group 02
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Group 03
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Group 04
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Group 05
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Group 06
Students: Please write your names and universities here....
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Group 07
Students: Please write your names and universities here....
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Group 08
Students: Please write your names and universities here....
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