Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE SPI2741

 
TITLE Principles of Landscape Science

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Spatial Planning and Infrastructure

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit students to the Science of Landscape Architecture.

Aims:
 
To review particular aspects of the physical environment, the range and types of natural and semi-natural vegetation, and the relationship between vegetation and environment.
To review the influence of man on the physical and natural environment.
To introduce plant requirements, including the make-up of soils, irrigation and light.
To explore the social, cultural and psychological issues relating to the site context as well as site investigative techniques, such as linear, topographical, scientific, technical and vegetative surveys, appraising, evaluating and communicating information through drawings, reports, presentation and projects.
To explore the properties of space asa basic element of landscape design.

Learning Outcomes:
  
Knowledge and Understanding: 
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:  

Embrace both an analytical as well as a practical approach to landscape design;
Understand space, form and use, and their relationship to landscape design;
Understand the urban context as a sphere for landscape study;
Explore the relationships between analytical and conceptual design processes and formulate aesthetic and functional messages and meaning for the formulation of landscape design.

Skills: 
By the end of the study-unit, the student will be able to:
 
Make site surveys and use systematic approaches to the understanding of the site, its context, its current use and its future use;
Explore the use of precedent in generating design ideas;
Understand the relationship between client brief, context appraisal and the design process that relates to landscape projects;
Develop a rational process which emphasizes the value of evaluating and refining initial proposals.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

Spens, M. (2007). Landscape architecture: Site/non-site. Wiley-Academy.
Holden, B., & Liversedge, J. (2014). Landscape architecture: An introduction. Laurence King Publishing.
Bell, Sarlöv Herlin, Stiles, Bell, Simon, & Stiles, Richard. (2012). Exploring the boundaries of landscape architecture. Routledge.
Schembri, P., & Baldacchino, A. (1998). Ilma, blat u ħajja : Is-sisien ta l-ambjent naturali Malti (It-2ni ed. riv.. ed.). Msida: Malta University.
Eckbo, G. (1964). Urban landscape design. McGraw-Hill.
Jacobs, A. (1995). Great streets (Paperback ed.). MIT.
Marcus, Francis, Marcus, Clare Cooper, & Francis, Carolyn. (1990). People places: Design guidelines for urban open space. Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Zell, M. (2008). The architectural drawing course: Understand the principles and master the practices. Thames & Hudson.
Booth, N. (1983). Basic elements of landscape architectural design. Elsevier.

Supplementary Readings:

Samran Sombatpanit, Renaud, Enters, Renaud, Fabrice G., & Enters, T. (1997). Soil conservation extension : From concepts to adoption. Science.
White, R. (1997). Principles and practice of soil science : The soil as a natural resource. (3rd. ed.). Blackwell Science.
Nick Robinson (2011). The Planting design Handbook (1st ed.) Routledge.
Berry S, Bradley S (1995). Plant Life, A Gardener’s Guide.
Ritienne Gauci, John A Schembri Eds (2019). Landscapes and Landforms of the Maltese Islands, Springer.


 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Workshop

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM2 Yes 40%
Assignment SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Antoine Gatt
Sarah Scheiber

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit