LAD1004 History and Theory of Landscape Architecture

This course explores the underpinnings of landscape architecture exposing students to ideas that have moulded our understanding between the dichotomies of nature versus naturalistic, aesthetics versus economics, mimicry versus authenticity and how unravelling these can enrich their reading of the landscape. The course is organised around prevailing themes which have persisted over time as well as contemporary ones which have scant historical precedence. The goal is not to produce historians capable of identifying the nuances between landscape styles, but rather designers who are critical of landscapes that they see and experience, but more importantly design and build.