INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

 

This course has its focus on the most complex of territorial contexts for landscape architectural praxis: the urban realm. This complexity is visible in the range of interpretations of the term ‘urban landscape’: from the constructed spaces within the city to the architectural expression of the underlying landscape form; from the open space (unbuilt) structure, which surrounds and penetrates the city, to the form and representation of nature in the city; and from the political and cultural identity of cities to their environmental and ecological functioning.

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While various interpretations continue to develop and evolve, one thing is clear: the increasingly important role of landscape and landscape architecture in the urban realm. Landscape architects, urban designers and planners are very well equipped to shape, form and visualize possible futures. They can and should do this on different scale levels and both in a technical systemic and an experiential, tangible way. You neither live in a concept nor in a technical system.

The design assignment for this course has a regional context that needs to be developed and designed, specified in a concrete spatial design for a specific location. The design studio develops your competencies in resolving a complex landscape architecture assignment in an urban area. The thematic focus of this is, the urban metabolic processes / ecosystem services within the setting of urban blue/green structures and their spatial and functional context. This way creating meaningful open public spaces for social interaction and cultural life, in balance with flora and fauna.

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GENERAL ASSIGNMENT

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The assignment of this course is to design a new residential area for Winnipeg within the context of the Regional Growth and Servicing Plan 20/50. The area is located along the Red River, North of Winnipeg, South of Selkirk, on the West bank.

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There are three main objectives for the design:

1. Create a healthy watersystem: The new residential area must be protected against flooding, retain water to overcome periods of drought and should purify both the runoff water from the agricultural area as from the neighborhood itself. 

2. Enhance Biodiversity: The new residential area must be designed as a dwelling place for man and nature and this way form a link between both the urban core of Winnipeg, the agricultural area and the parks and nature reserves.

3. Create a neighborhood with numerous common qualities: The new residential area must be designed as high-density. This way it might be possible to create organized transport, urban agriculture, local water purification and other eco system services.

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The design is a spatial, landscape architectural design, focusing on the green and blue structure, showing:

• the way neighbourhood relates to and enhances the “The Regional Growth and Servicing Plan 20 to 50” by the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR)the new functions of the residential area.

• its relationship, both functionally and spatially, to Winnipeg, the Red River North and the rest of the landscape

• the way this new neighbourhood functions

• the new desired social structures it provokes 

• the way the area smells, feels and makes you move

 

The design is based on your vision of the future for this part of the world, where the neighbourhood plays an important role in making the metabolic flows of the city sustainable. The design is placed in a space continuum allowing you to make it both part of a larger blue/green structure design and show in detail how this park design could be developed. Your design will also influence the WMR 20/50.