Garden Design and Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements fo this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject examines the history of garden making in Europe and Australia and the influence history has had on contemporary garden design. The focus is on the 18th to the 20th Century. Notable gardens discussed include those from Islam, Medieval Europe and the areas of Renaissance and Baroque Italy. The influences of the Arts and Crafts, modernism, postmodernism and the contemporary garden are explored within an Australian context.

Processes, principals and planting design applications behind contemporary garden design are outlined in conjunction with the creation of a garden design portfolio assignment. Guest lecturers will include successful practitioners in the field.

The management and design issues relating to large gardens such as a Botanic or National Trust Garden will be explored through lectures provided by operational managers and excursions to Australian heritage, botanical and contemporary garden sites.

The content includes:

• an overview of garden history and its influence on contemporary design
• contemporary garden design and designers
• processes, principals and practices used in garden design
• design conservation and management of heritage, botanical and contemporary sites
• planting design and applications
• visits to contemporary and heritage landscapes.

The objectives of this subject are intended to extend the participants' ability to read a landscape and be able to:

• discuss historical garden and landscape styles and their relationships
• discuss contemporary design issues and elements and their relationship to garden history
• describe the garden design process
• understand management issues in a heritage, botanical or contemporary landscape.

Design portfolio assessments - 40%

Essay/report assessment - 40%

In class assessment - 20%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At conclusion of this subject the student should be able to:

• discuss historical and contemporary garden and landscape styles and their relationships,
• describe design principles and plant composition and applications,
• outline the processes and practices used in residential and small-scale landscape design,
• analyse planting design using outcome-based criteria,
• demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues in garden design.