LARC10130 Landscape Theory and History

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module, which complements some of the themes explored in LARC 10110 Understanding Landscape, provides the student with an understanding of critical thinking, selected literature, theory and practice in the main landscape architecture canons. It assists students in making relevant, major historical events or characters, to contemporary landscape architecture practice. It is taught by means of several themes that deal with overarching subjects such as ecology, art, aesthetics, environment, society and technology. It examines the changing relations between landscape, culture and society through time and introduces some of the key influences on contemporary landscape architecture. The module aims to provide students with the vocabulary, tools and design precedents to support the analysis of landscape architecture practice and to enrich studio design.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students will:
1. Be familiar with main canons of landscape architecture practice.
2. Have acquired skills in intellectualising certain aspects of landscape architecture practice.
3. Indicate ability in research and critical thinking.

Indicative Module Content:

Presentation of main canons in landscape architecture, particularly European.
Speculation as to the meaning and use of key words such as landscape, nature, ecology etc.
The importance of landscape architecture practice and practitioners as the precursor to 'theory' in the discipline.
Historical notions of aesthetics, taste, style and their relevance to contemporary practice.
Using what the module coordinator calls 'chronologies of practice' in landscape architecture as a lens through which to explore multiple interpretations of history.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

0
Total

0
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
A series of lectures using creative and graphically presented themes will be used with in-class discussion to help explore the complexity of landscape architecture practice, including contemporary practice as it is influenced by historical precedent.
Students are asked to take extensive notes by hand and diagram ideas and information while the lectures are rolled out, during the lectures.
Students are expected to carry out the requisite amount of self-directed learning for a 5 credit module, outside of lecture times. Self-directed learning for this module involves significant reading and research into this fascinating, complex and wide-ranging subject.
An element of in-class project work such as short group 'on-the-day' assignment(s).
Short individual written assignment(s), with an opportunity to use recognised referencing system(s).
In-class readings from the module coordinator's relevant publications.
Reading list and references cited during lectures.

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): In person exam at the end of the semester. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded Yes

85

 Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): Short written assignment with references and supporting images, usually handed in towards the second half of the semester, date TBC. Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 Graded No

8

 No
Group Work Assignment: Short in-class group presentation in a selected week within the first half of the semester, date TBC. Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5 Graded No

8

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

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