University of Technology Sydney

11561 Interdisciplinary Studio

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 12 cp

Subject level: Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject aims to further landscape architectural design skills through the integration of a specific research agenda that may be tested through project-based speculations. The research agenda comprises a particular topic selected from a range of discipline areas including, but not limited to, computation and digital design in landscape architecture, construction in landscape architecture, environmental and performance-based design in landscape architecture, urban design and activism and the role of the landscape architect within critical cultural and ecological discourse. The subject also enhances a critical understanding of landscape architecture as both a discipline with an existing body of knowledge and a set of practices that continuously challenge and add to that body of knowledge. The subject requires the testing of ideas and modes of practice in landscape architectural design, and the production of design proposals that accurately and persuasively convey the most relevant ideas and practices at an introductory level.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Undertake primary and/or secondary research to inform and enrich the design proposition.
2. Establish a design proposition from a clear methodology
3. Apply design process and sub-disciplinary knowledge areas in refining the design proposition.
4. Present complete and relevant findings of a professional quality to articulate and defend the landscape architectural proposition.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Present critical arguments about how research informs and drives design practice. (C.1)
  • Critically position work within an extended disciplinary context. (R.1)
  • Independently formulate and test complex ideas, arguments and rationales through designs. (R.2)
  • Challenge design conventions through scholarly research and investigative practice. (R.3)

Teaching and learning strategies

Overview
Students will be required to prepare and present research and design materials of various types in the context of this subject. These include printed and digital presentations of research materials, drawings, videos and animations, models, prototypes, reports, text based documents, exhibition materials of various types and an individual portfolio of student work. The intent of this subject is to develop design proposals and the necessary communication and research tools and evidence required to develop, present and describe that project in the most appropriate form for a professional and public audience.

Delivery

Masters design studios comprise two (2) tutorial sessions of three (3) hours each per week conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays between the hours of 0900 - 1800. Students will be required to progressively prepare and present research and design materials of various types relative to the studio context and objectives of this studio.

In some circumstances, such as travelling studios, there may be a period of intensive work undertaken which requires travel to various significant locations or collaboration with other groups of students or academics from UTS or other institutions. Any deviation from the typical studio pattern described above, will be advertised by the studio instructor before enrolments into elective tutorial groups is required.


Online Learning
All subject documents, studio briefs, assessment descriptions, and supplementary resources and readings relevant to each studio offering will be made available on the UTS Online portal. Your tutor will be responsible for the maintenance and distribution of this information and any concerns regarding access to this content should be made to your tutor in the first instance.

Feedback

The subject provides a range of formative feedback strategies.

1. All assessments will be graded in ReView. ReView will be used as a formative feedback mechanism in Assessment

2. The subject is designed around the progressive development of a highly resolved design project. Each tutorial and assessment milestone enables the continual and progressive development of both the knowledge, technical skills and understandings necessary to deliver a successful outcome. As such, each tutorial serves as a continuous feedback mechanism for students and your engagement in each studio session is necessary.

3. It is the student’s responsibility to record any feedback given during meetings. This will assist in how iterative development can be accessed and ultimately assessed.

Content (topics)

Studios will be offered across a range of disciplinary topics, which will each deal with their own specific domains of knowledge and the techniques necessary to their successful investigation. These topics include but are not limited to:

- Critical design practice
- Urban design
- Computation and digital design in landscape architecture and manufacturing
- Material and construction in landscape architecture
- Environmental and performance based design in landscape architecture
- Advocacy and the role of the landscape architect and design within critical cultural discourse
- Advanced design techniques

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Review 01

Intent:

Refer to Studio briefs

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1 and R.3

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 2: Review 02

Intent:

Refer to Studio briefs

Evaluate the quality of the student's design proposal

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, R.1, R.2 and R.3

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 30%

Assessment task 3: Review 03

Intent:

Refer to Studio briefs

Evaluate the quality of the student's design proposal

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, R.1, R.2 and R.3

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 50%

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

Required texts

Please refer to your detailed studio description available on UTS Online.

Other resources

Please refer to your detailed studio description available on UTS Online.