LAR 5304G Digital Landscape Representation III: Advanced Studies
Th 7:00-10:00 PM
Spring 2014
National Capital Region Master of Landscape Architecture Program
Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Instructor: Rob Holmes
Contact: rholmes@m.ammoth.us
Website: http://m.ammoth.us/representation/
Description
Within this seminar, thesis students with substantial experience are given the freedom to explore advanced topics in digital landscape representation which coincide with their thesis work. Study objectives, products, readings, and resources are developed independently and reviewed by the instructor.
Course Objectives
1. Develop advanced competencies in focused areas of study related to digital landscape representation. These areas of study will be independently determined by students in consultation with the instructor.
2. Combine techniques of drawing, notation, and cartography to represent landscapes as both static objects and dynamic flows at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
3. Develop the capacity to think critically and self-reflectively about representation both as a component of the design process and as a privileged mode of discourse within the field of landscape architecture. This course will therefore emphasize not merely how to represent landscape digitally, but also why, where, and when various techniques and conventions are appropriate and inappropriate.
Format
While the bulk of course content will be described in the plan of study determined by students in consultation with the instructor, students will also be expected to participate in lectures, discussions and critiques shared with the two other concurrent sections of Digital Landscape Representation.
Text
There is no single required text for this course.
Readings
Students will draw on a mixture of skills-based and theoretical readings, with the selection developed in consultation with the instructor.
Digital Structure
At the completion of each exercise, all finished work should be uploaded to the course Dropbox before presentation. No grades will be assigned to work that has not been uploaded. An appropriate folder will be provided within the Dropbox. Files should be named using the following convention: “DLR-III_[exercise number]_[last name]”. For instance, if I turned in my first exercise, it would be labeled “DLR-III_1_Holmes.pdf”. Files not properly named will be treated as late work and evaluated accordingly.
Grading
10% STUDY PROPOSAL
65% PRODUCTS
10% MIDTERM CRITIQUE
10% FINAL CRITIQUE
05% CLASS PARTICIPATION
Grades will be awarded using the following letter scale:
A exceeds expectations in every way, with distinguished mastery of material
B consistent and strong work that meets requirements and evidences moments of exceptional development with good mastery of material
C satisfactory work, meets basic requirements with basic mastery of material
D unsatisfactory work. does not meet all requirements
F failing or incomplete
Late Work
Assignments not completed on time will receive a grade penalty, varying in relation to the lateness of the work.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for the scheduled duration of each class session. Arriving late or leaving early, unless authorized by the instructor, will be considered an unexcused absence. Every unexcused absence will result in a grade penalty.
Computers
The use of computers to participate in class is obviously required; the use of computers to avoid participating in class is unacceptable and will result in a grade penalty.
Backups
Students are responsible for maintaining backups of their work. It is recommended that you spread your backups across at least two devices (for instance: a local hard drive on your personal computer and some kind of removable media like an external hard drive or flash drive). Storing information permanently on a flash drive is not recommended; flash drives are intended for information transfer and are easy both to physically damage and physically misplace.
As part of learning to work responsibly with digital media is implementing proper backup procedures, loss of digital files will not be treated as an acceptable excuse for late work.
Academic Conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the ruleset described in the Virginia Tech code of student conduct.
Course Registration
CRN 20315 LAR 5304G ADV Topics in Landscape Arch
Schedule
01 M 1.20 MLK Day (no classes)
T 1.21 Classes Begin
Th 1.23 Lecture: Introduction to Digital Landscape Representation
02 Th 1.30
03 Th 2.6
04 Th 2.13
05 Th 2.20
06 Th 2.27
07 Th 3.6 Thesis Mid-terms
xx 3.8-3.16 Spring Break
08 Th 3.20 CRITIQUE
Studio Mid-terms
09 Th 3.27 CELA
10 Th 4.3
Handout: Critical Cartography
11 Th 4.10
Lecture: Notation and Landscape
12 Th 4.17
13 Th 4.24
14 Th 5.1 FINAL CRITIQUE
Cumulative
5.5- Studio Finals
5.12- Thesis Finals
Tu 5.13 FINAL REVISIONS DUE