Course Title: Landscape Architecture Structures and Materials

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Landscape Architecture Structures and Materials

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ARCH1159	City Campus	Undergraduate	315H Architecture & Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013
ARCH1159	City Campus	Undergraduate	320H Architecture & Urban Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015

Course Coordinator: Michael Howard & Dr. Marieluise Jonas

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2966

Course Coordinator Email: michael.howard@rmit.edu.au & marieluise.jonas@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 8.11.52

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

Landscape Architecture Structures and Materials sits in the Environments stream.The environments stream provides skill base and core knowledge in the field of landscape architecture through training in dynamic landscape systems and the built environment as well as the ecological, social, cultural and economic aspects of landscape architectural design.
Structures and Materials addresses the built environment through precedent, structure and material research.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

It is intended that at the completion of this course you should:
- demonstrate a competency to resource and research materials
- demonstrate a basic competency in the conventional construction details
- demonstrate a basic understanding of the relevant Australian standards and specifications
- understand and challenge conventional structural systems through innovative use of material and adaptation of construction details
- understand the collaborative nature of design as one involving a diverse range of professions
- understand the implication of material life spans and maintenance requirements
- develop an insight into the environmental implications of materials and inherent construction and structural details as an environmental friendly designer

Overview of Learning Activities

LECTURES
A number of core lectures will be interjected with a series of guest lectures from the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, industrial design, and engineering. It is intended that both a theoretical and practical understanding of ’structures + materials’ is presented + discussed in order to develop an awareness of the ’possibilities of making’ and the inherent capacity of structure as part of the design process of landscape architecture.
SITE VISITS
Prescribed site visits, those undertaken by you on your own merits, and a general re-investigation of the physical world in which we exist is intended to demonstrate the physical possibilities of structures and materials, and how they are employed in the historical and contemporary landscape architecture design culture. This investigation has the view to imagining different and potentially better alternatives to what exists ... you will be encouraged to explore the diversity between the experience of the given and ideas of the new.
Construction sites are intended to demonstrate processes of the construction employed to bring the intended structures and materials into being and the effects generated by them which have an inherent logic as to there use.
TUTORIALS
this course will comprise two types of tutorials:
- tutorials are intended to demonstrate how to work through the theory and practice of the technical instruction, demonstrations, site visits and presentations. These tutorials will also be the platform to discuss with the tutor and the class findings and ideas relevant to ’structures + materials’ to further the learning via direction + example of the individual and the group.

Overview of Learning Resources

What will I need to access and read for this course?
recommended reading list:
Cement and Concrete Association (1978) Basic Guide to Concrete Construction
Cement and Concrete Association Making Good Concrete
Ching F (1991) Building Construction Illustrated New York: Van Nostrand Rhenhold
Craul, P j (1992) Urban soil in landscape Design N. Y Wiley
Nicholette, F (1973) Concrete in the urban landscape, Cement and Concrete Association, London.
Gordon, J (1978) Structures or why things don’t fall down, Penguin, London
King, H (1971) Components and Finishes, Mitchell’s Building Construction, Halsted Press, London.
Lisney, A Landscape Design Guide, Gower Technical
Marsh, P (1974) Concrete as Visual Material. Cement and Concrete Association, London.
Ogg, A Architecture in Steel: The Australian RAIA, ACT
Pegrum, R Details in Australian Architecture RAIA, Canberra
Serra, Josep Ma. Urban Elements - furniture and microarchitecture. Ingoprint, S.A. Barcelona.
Sillers, William R (1985), Introduction to Structures, Halsted Press, New York
Staines Allen. (1997) Decks and Pergolas Construction Manual, Pinedale Press, Caloundra.
Stroud, J (1979) Structure and Fabric: Part 1: Mitchell’s Building Construction, Halsted Press,London
Sunset Publishing (1995) Patios and Decks, California.
Sunset Publishing (1995) Fences and Gates, California.
Timber Promotion Council Specifying and Ordering Structural Timber
Timber Promotion Council Section Properties of Structural Timber
Timber Promotion Council Timber Framing Manual
Timber Promotion Council Understanding Victorian Structural Hardwood
Out Door Design Source #4 Universal Magazines, Sydney, NSW.
ROAD NOTE (All Issues) Cement and Concrete Association of AustraliaMIX (All Issues) Cement and Concrete Association of Australia
Victorian Timber Promotion Council (1983) Victorian Hardwood in Building, Blackburn,Vic
Vanderberg, M Hard Landscape in Concrete, Architectural Press
Wyatt, K (1974) Principles of Structure, NSW, University Press,Sydney
Harris, Dines and Nicholas T (1988) Timer Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture, Design + Construction Data, NY McGraw Hill
Standards Association of Australia Australian Standards.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course will be project-based and comprise a set of incremental, cumulative tasks structured to enable students to demonstrate their competency.