Performative Ecologies

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

Admission into one of the following courses

MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
MC-ARCH2Y Master of Architecture (200 points)
MC-ARCH3Y Master of Architecture (300 points)
MC-LARCH Landscape Master of Architecture
MC-LARCH2Y Landscape Master of Architecture (200 points)
MC-LARCH3Y Landscape Master of Architecture (300 points)
MC-URPL Master of Urban Planning

or approval from the subject coordinator.

None; the coordinator welcomes students from landscape, architecture, urban design and related disciplines who wish to extend their knowledge of ecology and design towards a greater conceptual understanding of sustainable design.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject explores the principles of ecological systems. It will introduce basic ecological concepts and fundamental ecological systems, and their applications in landscape design. It will include plants and biomes, soils and water, spatial geometries, emergence, resilience, and the ecological performance of designs in relation to design speculations. The subject will be delivered through lectures and/or guest lectures, tutorials, field trip/s, and more practical sessions synthesising dominant themes in these areas.

On completion of this subject the student should be able to:

• Understand basic concepts and theory in ecology and ecological systems;
• Understand the relationships between ecological systems and design;
• Interpret landscapes as living ecological systems;
• Relate key environmental factors or gradients to dominant ecological processes in landscapes.

• Spatial analyses of 3 diagram based projects over 3 weeks, due weeks 2, 3 and 4, 30% in total, 1500 words (word equivalent), approximately 500 words each;

• Ecological field observation mapping, due week 6, 20%, 1000 words (word equivalent);

• In class design assessment on performative ecology, due selected tutorial (hurdle requirement);

• Essay on set choice of questions given early in semester, due week 11, 20%, 1200 words;

• Catalogue of performative ecology projects, due during Exam period, 30%, 1500 (word equivalent).

Hurdle requirement: Satisfactory completion of class design assessment on performative ecology

W.E. Dramstad, J.D. Olson and R.T.T Forman. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land Use Planning. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1996.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have developed the following:

• correct use of technical terminology;
• evaluation of design and planning decisions;
• critical thinking skills;
• conceptual and spatial thinking skills;
• scale thinking skills;
• analysis and synthesis of information to propose solutions;
• written competency;
• communication of design and planning ideas verbally and graphically.