Type of course

Course content

The study programme differentiates between urban, landscape, and territorial practices. This differentiation enables three different perspectives to be added to the spectrum of human activities, which directly affect arctic/subarctic landscapes. The focus on such practices underscores how humans actively influence and shape landscapes through different activities.

Even though the three perspectives mentioned above overlap to a certain degree, they are thematized and divided into separate studio courses. This studio will have its focus on urban practices.

Urban practices are, fundamentally connected to the city as a phenomenon. Although, it is not necessarily limited to the structures or forms of development of the city. In modern societies, where availability and accessibility have, to a large extent, replaced density as a measure of proximity, traditional terminologies such as city vs. countryside, and center vs. periphery can be misleading in relation to contemporary urbanization processes. As such, Urban practices encompasses both densely populated areas as well as open landscapes It is not limited to large urban societies, of which there exists relatively few in arctic/subarctic regions but is equally connected to traditional townships and their transformation through contemporary urbanization processes. An ecosystem-based understanding of the interaction between urban and natural processes is central to this studio course, especially in connection to (urban) life in arctic/subarctic areas and in dealing with challenges relating to climate change.

The intention of the study programme is to challenge its participants to study and evaluate existing urban practices, as well as develop new ones that can help support our ambition of sustainable development in the field.

Objectives of the course

After passing the course, the student will have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

• Specific knowledge about the interaction between urban practices and ecosystems in the Arctic/subarctic landscape.
• Specific knowledge about the climatic challenges which are connected to (city) life in the Arctic/subarctic.
• General knowledge about urban conditions in the Arctic/subarctic and a basic understanding of contemporary urbanisation processes.
• Understanding of the role of landscape architecture in relation to urban practices and the ambition of sustainable societal development.

Skills:

• The ability to analyse landscapes and identify the interaction between urban practices and ecosystems.
• The ability to develop landscape architectural responses to issue connected to urban practices, at an advanced level, through design research.
• The ability to incorporate and apply one’s own observations and experience to qualify landscape architectural project proposals.
• The ability to incorporate and apply basic knowledge about biodiversity and ecosystems to qualify landscape architectural project proposals.
• The ability to convey landscape architectural intentions in a manner that expresses empathy with and understanding of the relevant landscape.

General competence

• The ability to independently apply knowledge, skills and, to a certain degree, facilitate one’s own working process.
• The ability to describe the field’s issues with a certain degree of complexity.
• The ability to collaborate with others in the field and, to a certain degree, take responsibility for one’s own and others’ learning.
• The ability, to a certain degree, to reflect critically on landscape architecture’s societal relevance and the potential role of the landscape architect.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open for exchange students who fulfil the admission requirements (please see the study programme's "Admission requirements" section).

If you have questions about our courses in landscape architecture, please contact: kunstakademiet@umak.uit.no