Minutes December 20 2011
Lecture by Professor Mohammed Masoud Al-Abdullah
Professor Masoud from University of Dammam, Saudi-Arabia, gave some theoretical background on documentation and assessment of behaviour patterns. The theory was shown with a case study related to a large beach recreation area that has been designed recently for the city of Dammam. Mr Masoud provided interesting insights into the outdoor behaviour patterns of traditional muslim societies. The discussion highlighted again the importance of analysing behaviour patterns as part of the design process in landscape architecture.
The recording is available here:
Tasks for the next session
Comments to your Group Members
- Write a comment on your group members' discussion pages until 5th of December. In this comment you may explain what you think is a relevant character feature of this area. This judgement should be based in what you have learned from the wiki page and the discussions so far.
Assignment 4: Communication and Awareness-Raising
During the last three sessions of the seminar all participants will be asked to present their ideas of how the everyday landscape can be communicated to the wider public. For doing this you are invited to use methods that do not belong to the core instruments of landscape architecture such as planning and design. But first of all, you have to be clear of what you want to communicate - like specific (hidden) potentials you have identified, problems and threats you became aware of, layers that should be more visible and so on.
During the session, we collected some thoughts in addition to some proposals I had prepared. Please feel free to choose one or more of these while being aware that this list is neither prescriptive nor complete, it should help you to make up your mind.
Potential 'channels' for communicating your ideas are:
- visual media: signs, posters, boards, flyer, websites, videos
- audio media: radio broadcast
- activities: guided tours, stollology, festivities, pick-nicks, making space visible through new/unusual activities
- artistic interventions ...you may have a look a Joseph Beuy's concept of the social sculpture
- guerrilla gardening, community gardening, collective tree planting ...
- feel free to extend the list!
Questions for the Group Discussion on 13th of December
- Which behaviour patterns are characteristic?
- Do you find any surprising behaviour patterns?
- Do space and behaviour correspond?
- How does people's behaviour change the place?
Time Frame
- Results need to be uploaded by Monday, 12th of December
- Please add short explanations
- Again, your findings will be discussed in parallel small groups on 13th of December and eventually also on the 20th of December