English Gardens, I: the International Baroque
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Prof. Mirka Beneš UT School of Architecture: LAR 388 L Spring 2012 p. 1 LAR 388L, lecture course Prof. Mirka Beneš Spring semester 2012 Office hrs: Mondays 12-2pm. Mon-Wed 9:30-11am Office: Sutton Hall 3.138 Room: GOL 3.120 Office tel: (512) 232-7384 [email protected] T.A.: Natsumi Nonaka, Ph.D. Program. Office hrs. & location.: TBA. email: [email protected] LAR 388K / ARC 388 R / ARC 368 R: History and Theories of Landscape Architecture--II: Modern Gardens and Public Landscapes: 1750 to the 1990s. Spring Semester 2012 * Course Description LAR 388L is a lecture course that continues History and Theories of Landscape Architecture I (Antiquity to 1750); it covers the formal and cultural history of gardens, parks and public landscapes from 1750 to the 1990s. The course thus ranges from the theories and practice of the Picturesque in 18th-century English landscape gardens to contemporary urban parks, worldwide. The focus is on understanding the critical components of design language, as well as contemporary discourses on landscape architecture. It seeks to identify and discuss the theoretical frameworks that structured and enriched the imaginations of the designers and their public, the observers and users of the landscapes. We situate the formation of theories and conceptualizations of modern designed landscapes in specific historical contexts. The multivalent forms of modern and contemporary landscape architecture, which cross borders with art, architecture and urban planning, technology, philosophy and geography, amongst others, are examined in the contexts of public and private spheres, relations between city and countryside, the rise of technology, social reform and ecological concerns during industrialization and urbanization. The course charts in particular the rise of public landscapes--from the early 19th-century landscaped parks of England and Germany to the public park movement in America, to contemporary developments. Attention will be given to the evolution of modernism in landscape architecture, its origins in Europe and America from the 1910s to its later expression in the 1960s and 1970s. Lectures will analyze the typologies of designed landscapes and the notion of the profession of landscape architecture from "Capability Brown", Humphry Repton, Karl-Friedrich Schinkel, Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., to Gertrude Jekyll, Beatrix Farrand, and on to Leberecht Migge, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Thomas Church, Garrett Eckbo, Dan Kiley, Lawrence Halprin, among others. We will attempt to interpret the work of contemporary designers from the period called "Post-Modernism" to recent times. Throughout the course, we will consider the new thinking about landscape and landscape architecture that has occurred in professional and academic circles particularly during the last several decades, a period characterized by interdisciplinary thinking in both professional practice and academic research, which brings together landscape architecture and other disciplines--such as geography, history, sociology, and architecture. Prof. Mirka Beneš UT School of Architecture: LAR 388 L Spring 2012 p. 2 Through the study of history and theories, this course structures the range of conceptual categories and contexts, which are specific to the designing of works of landscape architecture. The key underlying question is: how does one conceptualize the design of a work of landscape architecture? what are the relevant issues and contexts at hand? Four frameworks are engaged to structure the course material: 1. Historical and Theoretical Frameworks: Categories of Reference. 2. The Formation of Landscape Architecture as a Discipline and as a Profession. 3. The Inscription of Meanings in Landscape Architecture: Theoretical-Cultural Interpretation 4. The Relevance of History for the Contemporary Field of Design. Goals of the Course: On a broad level, the course encourages the situating of designed sites and their conceptualization in historical or modern contexts, the recognition of their multivalent character and the fundamental social and interdisciplinary nature of their production, which engages variously with the spheres of art, architecture, urbanism and planning, ecological and geographical systems, among others. On a theoretical and methodological level, the course readings encourage an evaluation of the new thinking about landscape and landscape architecture that has occurred in professional and academic circles particularly during the last several decades, a period characterized by interdisciplinary thinking in both professional practice and academic research, which brings together landscape architecture and other disciplines--geography, history, sociology, art, architecture, and science. Lectures, Discussion, and Discussion Sections: Handouts: Handouts with sites and dates will be distributed to accompany lectures. Discussions: Discussion takes place in the classroom, and students are encouraged to ask questions. Some sessions are devoted to reviewing previously seen material. Field Trips: One or more lectures (field trips on campus) will have a seminar format making use of the university's rich resources in rare book rooms, museums, and archives, among them the Harry Ransom Center (rare books and maps). Such field trips vary from year to year. Class attendance is mandatory, and forms part of your grade for this course. It is mandatory, unless exemption has been given in advance by the instructor for excusable absences. Students with three (3) or more unexcused absences are subject to lowering of the final grade for the course. Please contact the T.A. or the instructor by email in advance, if you expect to be absent. Time Commitment of Students: Includes class time (lectures and discussions), plus about four (4) hours (varies) of weekly reading. Additional time for study, reading and preparation for projects. The course assignments are spaced across the semester, and the instructor attempts to accomodate deadlines for the class in view of specific studio deadlines that students may have. Prof. Mirka Beneš UT School of Architecture: LAR 388 L Spring 2012 p. 3 Basis of Final Grade and Assignments: Class Participation: Discussions, questions..................................................................5 % 1. Short Project: Studies in the Picturesque: 18th and 19th centuries. Short Essay of 4 pages, plus Images, Bibliography, and a Drawing..................25 % 2. Mid-Term Exam: Exam in-class (1 hour 20 min) with 5 comparative slide-identifications (10 images) and short written essay in class...............................30 % 3. Final Project: This Short Essay project trains the student in conducting scholarly research in Modern and Contemporary Landscape Architecture; Essay of 10 pages, plus Images and Bibliography...................40 % There is no Final Exam in this course; the Final Essay serves as the concluding project. Due Dates of Assignments: 1. Short Project:: due 2/15/12 (Wed), in class, hand to T.A., GOL 3.120. 2. Mid-Term Exam: on 3/19/12 (Mon), in class, hand to T.A., GOL 3.120. 3. Final Project: due 4/23/12 (Mon), in class, hand to T.A., GOL 3.120. Grading Policy and Grade Descriptions: A = excellent work that displays conceptual rigor, original research, and insights and ideas that tend to go beyond those presented by the readings or by the instructor in class; excellent writing and superb presentation of the project in terms of Bibliography, Notes, Images. The assignment or essay has a rigorously supported argument. Readings are strongly engaged in the assignment, and the student takes a position with respect to them, successfully critiquing or building on them. B = good work that displays thorough understanding of the material and successful completion of the assignment, very good writing, diligent research, fine presentation of the project in terms of Bibliography, Notes, Images. The assignment or essay has an argument that is clear to the reader. Readings are very well engaged in the assignment. C = satisfactory work that meets the minimum requirements of the assignment, displays no further pursuit of ideas presented in class and in readings, displays limitations in skills, writing, conceptualization, and presentation of project. The argument of the essay or assignment is not clearly presented. Readings are minimally brought into the assignment. D = poor work that does not meet the minimum requirements of the assignment and does not meet the level of skills required to complete the assignment in terms of conceptualization, writing, and presentation. No attempt to structure an argument is made. Readings are not well understood and are not even minimally brought into the assignment. Prof. Mirka Beneš UT School of Architecture: LAR 388 L Spring 2012 p. 4 F = unacceptable, failing work that includes incomplete assignment or major parts of it, unacceptable delays in turning in the work, unsuccessful performance overall. Important Guidelines and Rules: All assignments not done in class must be typed. Bibliography, footnotes and a minimum number of illustrations must ALWAYS be included. All assignments MUST be submitted to the instructor in hard copy. The instructor will not accept assignments sent only by email. NO late work will be accepted: A "Fail" Grade will be given for any late assignment. Honor Code for the University of Texas: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is