ARCH5731C Topical Studies in Urbanism: Modernist Landscapes
Target Students BSSc1, BSSc2, BSSc3, BSSc4, MArch1, MArch2
Course Term 2
Course Type Elective
Teacher(s) CHU, Cecilia L.; WANG, Ting
This course examines the key intellectual currents and seminal projects that underpin the theories and practices of contemporary landscape design and how it relates to varied built environment disciplines. The course begins by exploring the professionalisation of landscape architecture in Europe and America at the turn of the 20th century, alongside emergent design thinking in diverse geopolitical contexts both within and outside the “West.” The course also considers the various ways in which the notion of “landscapes” has been used across different fields, including architecture, planning, urban design and conservation, as well as in geography, anthropology, and environmental humanities.
The course examines the role of landscape design and its connections to other built environment disciplines. This exploration fosters an awareness of the significance of interdisciplinary thinking, which is increasingly crucial for addressing environmental challenges in the 21st century. Through in-depth discussion and debates on selected case studies of a variety of landscape projects, students will learn to contextualize these cases within broader historical, socio-cultural and ecological frameworks, as well as the transnational production of design knowledge across different geographical locations.
This course aligns with the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Habitat’s Urban Agenda, emphasizing cross-disciplinary approaches to tackle today’s pressing urban issues. Course assignments are designed to create meaningful connections between the SDGs with contemporary design practice in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the international context.
