This course examines the relationship between ecological landscape design and natural elements/resources. The emphasis is on understanding natural and human/ cultural systems and the interactions across. Of primary importance is understanding of ecological processes that occur within. Students will learn the significance of these systems and their potential contribution to sustainable environments while highlighting the threats and opportunities from anthropogenic impacts.
As a design studio, students will explore landscape planning and design from the regional to the site-development scale and they will learn how to integrate ecological design and planning frameworks within their design proposals to balance human use and ecological integrity. This will require the ability to synthesize information about natural features, cultural resources, and development patterns to create spatial landscape strategies that address the unique problems and opportunities of a chosen study area.