Type of course

Obligatory prerequisites

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 the territorial practices.

Territorial practices incorporate overarching connections between vast geographical areas and frames of time. One can "read" and interpret the results of territorial practices through urban and landscape perspectives, however, to truly understand and decode the logic behind these practices one must apply a territorial perspective. For these same reasons, mapping plays an important part as an exploratory tool in territorial practices. Central to the study programme is the discussion of how overarching systems and structures help to set the premise for the evolution and structuring of landscapes and cityscapes. This discussion, especially in relation to arctic and subarctic regions, is closely connected to actors, interests, and potential conflicts in related to terrestrial, and marine dispositions, as well as the use of natural resources. This issue is actualized with current and encroaching climate changes and loss of biological diversity.

This study programme encourages a critical study of both existing and future/the evolving territorial practices, which supports the study’s ambitions about championing sustainable development.

Objectives of the course

After passing the course, the students will have obtained the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

•Specific knowledge of the overarching systems and structures which influence the development and design of landscapes and city communities in Arctic/subarctic areas.

•General knowledge of the relevant and historical geopolitical situation in Arctic/subarctic areas.

•Understanding of landscape architecture’s role in relation to territorial practices and the ambition of sustainable societal development.

Skills:

•The ability to analyse larger geographic regions with a view on decoding territorial practices

•The ability to use mapping as a research tool.

•The ability to incorporate and apply basic knowledge from community planning and other relevant fields to qualify analysis and mapping.

•The ability to develop landscape architectural responses to issues connected to territorial practices, at an advanced level, through design research.

•The ability to incorporate and apply one’s own observations and experiences to qualify landscape architectural project proposals.

•The ability to incorporate and apply basic knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystems to qualify landscape architectural project proposals.

•The ability to convey landscape architectural intentions in a manner which expresses empathy and understanding for the relevant landscape.

General competence:

•The ability to independently apply knowledge and skills and, to a high degree, plan one’s own working process.

•The ability to describe issues relevant to the field with a high degree of complexity.

•The ability to participate in field-related collaborations and, to a high degree, take responsibility for one’s own and others’ learning.

•The ability, to a high 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