ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a holistic, contextual and process-oriented approach to teaching landscape design and construction. The design methodology described as follows is an outcome of the author’s research and reflections on teaching landscape design studios and construction classes at university, as well as on practical experiences as a freelance landscape architect. In landscape architecture, the physical and intangible context defined by a particular site or place represents a key component of design, regardless of the extent to which it is ultimately considered in the final design. Teaching landscape design by means of the circular design process model has been applied and tested by the author together with different colleagues during various design classes and project studios, in Bachelor programmes as well as in Master’s programmes. Element-based structures focus on the different ‘families’ of constructive elements in landscape architecture, each including knowledge about appropriate materials.
