The major Landscape Architecture offers an international (English spoken) program in the winter semester of the third study year. During this semester the student focuses on two main projects and a 'toolbox'-module. The main modules are both landscape design modules and focus on different scale-levels. The first module focusses on the local scale in an urban context. The second module focusses on the regional landscape scale. In this way the minor offers two different angles in which the profession of landscape architecture is practiced in the Netherlands. The toolbox module gives students extra tool and exercises, adding to the minor specific knowledge and capabilities, that are valuable for the landscape designer.

Besides fieldtrips connected to the assignments, we organize two extra field trips for foreign students to explore the Dutch landscape, as wel as a lecture series. After one semester in The Netherlands the Exchange student will have become acquainted with the Dutch landscape and landscape architecture practise in The Netherlands.

Added value:
External students will expand their ‘scope’, knowledge, skills and expertise in the field of Landscape architecture in the Dutch context, in combination with gaining experience of working in an international setting.

Dutch landscape architecture and the Dutch approach towards landscape design are renown all over the world. The way the Dutch shaped their landscape is unique. The minor offers the possibility to get acquainted with and understand the way in which the different landscapes in the Netherlands came to be. After one semester in Velp students will see that different rural and urban landscapes deal with different problems that require different design approaches and solutions. This experience can work as a mirror for evaluating the usual approach towards and interaction with the landscape in their home country.

The three constituent parts of the minor are described here: 

DESIGN & INSPIRATION (VTL3OIVE1)

The first project 'Design and Inspiration' (Sept.-Nov., 7 EC) focuses on discovering the core of the landscape design profession. In a combined studio, Dutch and Erasmus students will work on a design project for a specific site. This studio is organized around seven key topics that are essential for the designer; 'sensing', 'digging', 'imagining', 'exploring', 'shaping', 'materializing' and 'communicating'. The module focusses on discovering your personal style, enhancing creative and divergent thinking, understanding the design process and developing a self-conscious attitude as a landscape designer. Students will make a design proposal for a project site of an intermediate scale in an urban or suburban (urban fringe) context. Each student makes his/her own design proposal, but some parts are in small groups. Working 'on-site' one day each week, is a specific characteristic of this module.

 Learning goals:

• discovering your own identity as a designer;
• enhancing your ability for creative thinking and working;
• developing of an ‘designerly approach’ towards design projects;
• structuring your design process;
• conscious and informed application of materials and techniques;
• attractive and effective communication of the design.
  
  

TOOLBOX (VTL3TBVN)

Parallel to the module Design & inspiration (Sept.-Nov., 7 EC).
Students will take part in two different Toolbox-classes, that offer specific tools for designing in the (sub-)urban context. Besides the mandatory tool 'Graphic techniques' (focusing on the use of 3D-software, each student chooses one of the following two options:  'Modelling & Design' (M@d) or'Sustainable Water Solutions for cities'. Besides this program it’s possible to learn more about computer programs as AutoCad, Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator (on individual basis).

Learning goals:
Enhancing knowledge and skills on the respective topics.

DESIGN & SOCIETY (VTL3OMVE):

The second project, Strategic Design’ (Nov.-Jan., 14 EC) focusses on making a landscape vision, master plan and design elaboration for a larger project area (regional and local scale), for a project location somewhere in Europe. Students will work in groups of 6 to 8 on an international design competition that is organized each year by the Le Notre Institute.*

 *    See weblink: https://forum.ln-institute.org/lenotre-institute-2/

In the case that the competition is not organized in a certain year, a replacement assignment will be offered by the course coordinator.

The assignment is strongly connected to a range of the following global topics; the effects of climate change, biodiversity, transition of agricultural landscapes, energy transition, closing of cycles of water, nutrients and materials, etc. Students work in 'offices' to explore the future development of an area. Strategic and integral planning, design of processes and visualizing future developments are important aspects of the assignment. In the first weeks of the course, the 'offices' (the student groups) will also conduct an in depth study of the project area, that will be graded separate from the design product. The final product consists of four A0-posters + short design explanation and will also be handed in as an official competition entry for the Le Notre Student Competition at the end of January.

 Learning goals:

• developing a critical attitude towards problems like climate change, energy, food production, social issues and being able to deal with these issues in a design assignment;
• develop a vision and design proposals on different scale levels and being able to see the connection between these levels (national, regional, local) and with the factor time (past, present, future);
• being able to visualize possible future developments over a time period of ten, twenty and fifty years;
• being able to design with processes;
• doing research that supports the design process;
• working in an interdisciplinary environment (with water specialists, ecologists, urban planners, etc.);
• being able to incorporate knowledge from other professional fields in the design proposal;
• being able to work in an international group setting.
  
  

SUPPLEMENTARY ASSIGNMENT (VTL3AOVN)

Extra subjects for broadening the knowledge (Sept.- Jan., 2 EC): excursions, evening lectures from professionals from practice (during 1st term) and Le Notre Institute lecture series.

Two years of bachelor course in Landscape Architecture, Architecture or Urbanism (or comparable).

 

Recommended literature:
Oles, T.; Go with me, 50 steps to landscape thinking. Amsterdam Academy of Architecture, 2014;

Vlug, J.A. et al, (2013). The need for Design. Velp: Hogeschool van Hall-Larenstein. ISBN: 978-90-817426-7-2. (available at institute, T&L, VHL).

Dependent on the module. Activities and work forms are: Assignments, design studio's, lectures, theory, workshops, excursions. Guidance is relatively intensive in the first period (2-2,5 day/week) and less intensive in the second period (1-1,5 day/week). Course load is 40 hours per week.

Design & Inspiration:

• Work book (individual; in between products, process, essay).
• Development Plan (design) and presentation (individual, oral presentation, in combination with poster (optional: models, video, ..).

Tool box:

• Assessment Tool 1, Graphic techniques: work book;
• Assessment Tool 2, Modelling and Design (M@d): model and oral explanation (presentation) or            ‘ Sustainable urban water systems’: report.

Strategic design:

• Research report;
• 4 A0-Design posters, design explanation (1 A4) and presentation.

Supplementary assignment:

Presence at least 80% of the offered lectures and excursions.  

The minor will be in English. Lectures will be in English as much as possible. Individual tutoring and guidance will be done in English for foreign students, but will also be done in Dutch when only Dutch are present (for example in small groups).