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Landscape Architecture Masters Theses Collection

Theses from 2022 2022.

The Eudaimonic Tree Pilot: A Study of Public Engagement in Participatory Art at Three Sites , Olivia A. James, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2021 2021

River Tapi Rejuvenation: Elevating the Ecological Corridor of Surat City , Kinjal Desai, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2018 2018

Curating Place: Using Interpretive Design to Metabolize Change in the Rural, Post-Industrial Landscape of Woronoco Massachusetts , Clark G. Piers-Gamble, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2017 2017

An Incremental Intervention in Jakarta: An Empowering Infrastructural Approach for Upgrading Informal Settelments , Christopher H. Counihan

The Use of Public Plazas in China and the United States: Measuring the Differences Using Direct Observation in Boston and Chongqing , Maozhu Mao, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2016 2016

Restoration: Bridging the Gaps A Graphic Translation of Ecological Restoration , Alyssandra Black, Landscape Architecture

The Role of the Landscape in the Socialization of Cohousing Communities: A Study in Western Massachusetts , Emilie Marques Jordao, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2013 2013

Forms, Transitions, and Design Approaches: Women as Creators of Built Landscapes , Tai-hsiang Cheng, Landscape Architecture

Reconnecting to Landscape: An Evaluation of the Post Hurricane Communities of Biloxi, Mississippi and Galveston, Texas , Elizabeth A. Englebretson, Landscape Architecture

Negotiating Postwar Landscape Architecture: The Practice of Sidney Nichols Shurcliff , Jeffrey Scott Fulford M.D., M.P.H., M.L.A., Landscape Architecture

The Lovely and the Wild: Considering Naumkeag , Carol Waag, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2012 2012

Public Art - Purpose and Benefits: Exploring Strategy in the New England City of Pittsfield, Ma , Pamela Jo Landi, Landscape Architecture

Environmental Design Research and the Design of Urban Open Space: A Study of Current Practice in Landscape Architecture , Jennifer Masters, Landscape Architecture

Culture, Community Development, and Sustainability in a Post-Freeway City , Bryan Obara, Landscape Architecture

Elements of Sustainable Urbanism and Strategies for Landscape Development: Design of Green City , Jie Su, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2011 2011

Bioretention: Evaluating their Effectiveness for Improving Water Quality in New England Urban Environments , Mary Dehais, Landscape Architecture

Landscapes of Compassion: A Guatemalan Experience , Travis W. Shultz, Landscape Architecture

Schoolyard Renovations in the Context of Urban Greening: Insight from the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts , Katherine A. Tooke, Landscape Architecture

Retrofitting Suburbs: Prioritizing Bmp Implementation to Reduce Phosphorus Runoff , Emily S. Wright, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2010 2010

Strengthening Urban Green: Using Green Infrastructure for Biodiversity Improvement in Boston's Highly Fragmented Urban Environments , Christopher L. Mantle, Landscape Architecture

Communicating Landscape Design Intent to the Non-expert: Small Experiments Using Collage , Deborah Zervas, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2009 2009

The Community Garden as a Tool for Community Empowerment: A Study of Community Gardens in Hampden County , Shanon C. Kearney, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 2008 2008

Alleys: Negotiating Identity in Traditional, Urban, And New Urban Communities , Sara A. Hage, Landscape Architecture

Rural Character in the Hilltowns: Understanding Attitudes About Planning in the Context of Attachment to Place , Anna J. Sadler, Landscape Architecture

Testing the New Suburbanism: Exploring Attitudes of Local Residents in Metropolitan Boston toward Residential Neighborhoods and Sustainable Development , Nicole A. West, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 1932 1932

Project for a state park system for Alabama , Sam Findley Brewster, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 1927 1927

The triangulation method of stadia transit topographic surveying adapted to landscape architecture , Kenneth Boyd Simmons, Landscape Architecture

Theses from 1917 1917

Principles of real estate subdivision with a practical problem , Irving C. Root, Landscape Architecture

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Master of Landscape Architecture Theses

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MLA Student Thesis Projects

Mla thesis projects.

Ever wonder what kind of thesis projects our students worked on while here in our program? Check out the topics our students, now alumni, explored!

Quicklinks: 2018-2019 |   2017-2018 |  2016-2017 |  2015-2016 | 2014-2015 | 2013-2014 | 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011

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Jennifer Ren

Choreographing a Greenway: Exploring Experiential Diversity Through Choreographic Dance Principles

Successful parks provide a rich assortment of experiences that stimulate the body, senses, and emotions. Another way to describe this quality is the term experiential diversity. While experiential diversity is rarely addressed explicitly in typical greenway designs, its implementation is vitally important in order to increase engagement and activate space. The Anacostia riverfront in Washington, D.C. suffers from a severe lack of experiential diversity and is redesigned in this thesis to explore how experiential diversity can enhance greenway design using choreographic dance principles. Many dance principles can be applied to design. By approaching park design as a choreographer of dance, a designer can focus on the human experiences –how materiality and the environment influence movement, senses, and emotions. This thesis demonstrates how dance can be successfully translated into the landscape, and how choreographic dance principles are helpful tools for creating a diverse and engaging landscape composition.

Matthew Zerfas

REGENERATIVE STORMWATER CONVEYANCE: TECHNIQUES TO WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP & TURNING STORMWATER LIABILITIES INTO AMENITIES

Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) is a moderately new best management practice primarily implemented in the mid-Atlantic region. This thesis documents the proposed design of an RSC at Parkdale High School in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. A degraded channel with incised banks between 9 to 12 feet in height was found on site. This stormwater channel runs for 160 feet and has a contributing catchment of 17.2 acres. The proposed RSC was designed to stabilize the channel banks, and create a stable channel profile. The runoff storage volume was calculated to be 4523.1 ft3 total which would treat a runoff volume of 0.24”. This equates to 32% TN, 37% TP and 40% TSS removal. The design provides a viewing area with a photo point and bank pin that would provide an opportunity for students and teachers to assist in visually documenting sediment deposition and geomorphological changes that may occur.

Joshua Franklin

TRANSFORMING ECOLOGICALLY DEFICIENT ROADSIDE GREENSPACE INTO QUALITY POLLINATOR HABITAT

This paper discusses preeminent ecological issues attributable to human development which negatively affect pollinator population sizes and diversity, and suggests design solutions to mitigate them. Under particular scrutiny is the perpetuation of monoculture landscapes. The problems with this ubiquitous practice include increased pesticide and herbicide use, lack of habitat and forage for pollinators, and reduced soil quality. In an effort to attenuate these threats, this thesis proposes two redesigns of University of Maryland campus lawn spaces into designed native plant communities. In these designs, native plants have been arranged in ways that reduce maintenance and provide ecological benefits by considering the unique roles each of them fill in their natural environment. Other strategies, such as defining borders around the habitat and placing smaller plants near the edges, were also implemented in order to positively influence the public’s view of these more naturalized designed systems and encourage adoption.

Avantika Dalal

DESIGNING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ACTIVE LIVING: THROUGH TRAIL AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

Trail and Transit Oriented Development is a new neighborhood planning and design concept. Trail and transit-oriented developments are high-density, mixed-use communities around public transit stations connected by trails (off-road shared use paths) and a dense network of pedestrian-friendly streets. This concept addresses the lack of pedestrian and bike-friendly design often characterized by suburban sprawl and the resultant lack of physical activity characterized by Americans. Car dependent suburban development promotes sedentary lifestyles. On the other hand, walkable and bike-friendly communities provide opportunities for active living. Neighborhoods designed with the concept of Trail and Transit Oriented Development have a network of trails connecting public amenities, major destinations, new development, and existing neighborhoods. This research project focuses on applying trail and transit-oriented design and planning principles to the Long Branch Sector Plan. There are two proposed Purple Line light rail stops within the boundary of Long Branch Sector. The proposed design provides an increase in trail length and connectivity. It creates a built environment for active living by creating opportunities for walking and bicycling in everyday life.

Laura Robinson

THE SURVIVORS’ MONUMENT: AN EMPOWERING AND HEALING LANDSCAPE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEIR SUPPORTERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

This design investigation explores the duality of landscape architecture to be both a tool for healing survivors of sexual violence and a mechanism for spreading awareness to the general population at the University of Maryland. To design the site, a literature review of healing gardens and case studies were undertaken to uncover the parameters for successfully designing with the restorative properties of nature and healing garden techniques. To understand how to apply this research to redesign the site, Morrill Quad was inventoried and analyzed. The result is a space where awareness and restorative elements are merged to promote the healing of individuals and the community. By utilizing the restorative qualities of nature with healing garden design techniques, the space creates opportunities for stress reduction and mental restoration for all users. The concept of a monument is re-imagined from one object symbolizing an event or person to an entire space representing a movement and those that support it. This monument space serves as an educational piece, a place to embody survivors’ voices, and a restorative environment for survivors and students.

Jorah Reinstein

Toward Conservation of Magnolia Bogs on Utility Rights-Of-Way: Increasing Imageability

Magnolia Bogs are a rare wetland type known only to the gravelly sands of the inner Chesapeake Bay watershed. Scattered across upland landscapes just east of the fall-line, these habitats occur where lenses of clay intersect the rolling terrain and groundwater seeps along the faces of hillsides. Most Magnolia Bogs have been lost to development, but remnant habitats have in several cases been inadvertently preserved on lands managed to support that very development – utility rights-of-way. Magnolia Bogs have become the focus of targeted conservation efforts, but despite intentions, bog remnants on rights-of-way often go unrecognized by maintenance crews and are unintentionally damaged during management procedures, particularly mowing. By adopting the perspective of a mower in the field, the patterns and forms of that experience are investigated. Cognitive mapping concepts are then applied to create suggestions for increasing the apparency of magnolia bogs to maintenance crews.

Reza Mabadi

THE CREATION, EVOLUTION , AND DEGRADATION OF THERAPEUTIC LANDSCAPE DURING THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES IN THE UNITED STATES

During the 18th and 19th centuries, planners, and medical reformists emphasized the restorative effects of natural settings in healthcare facilities. Then, in the 19th and 20th centuries, many hospitals campuses across the United States extensively applied therapeutic landscapes in their designs. While the architectural history of hospitals has been studied thoroughly, the gardens of healthcare institutions have not been independently investigated. In the 20th century, socio-cultural changes and modern technologies caused a degradation of therapeutic landscapes in hospitals. Today, new approaches to medicine and health necessitate a reexamination and reinvention of hospital landscapes in order to better align hospital atmospheres with modern healthcare goals. The goal of this dissertation research is to understand the transformation of hospital landscapes, their evolution and degradation within their socio-cultural context during the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. This study will also addresses the broad concept of therapeutic landscapes and holistic approaches to using hospital gardens for restorative purposes. Therefore, this research aims to redefine the therapeutic landscape in healthcare facilities by proposing ideas to expand their socio – cultural capacities and extend their therapeutic properties beyond conventional practice. This research hypothesizes that throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States, the therapeutic landscape in hospitals was degraded, and that the reemergence of conventional landscape practices is insufficient to address the whole healing properties of hospital sites. To achieve the stated goal, this research applied a qualitative approach through a case study method. Data collection was conducted via a triangulation strategy, and included semi- structural interviews, content analysis, and an extensive literature review. In analyzing the collected data, I used thick description, spatial-comparative analysis, and content analysis integrated into a holistic framework, in order to examine both historical and modern practices. Analysis of results concluded that throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the therapeutic hospital landscapes in the United States became degraded due to the introduction of new technologies. In addition, the reemergence of conventional landscape practices, such as small healing gardens, does not fully address the restorative potential of hospital sites. Therefore, many new possibilities need to be explored and implemented.

2016-2017 [ top ]

Renee LaGue

Wild to Wildscape: Designing the Urban Wild

Urban wasteland, terrain vague, postindustrial site, urban wild and wildscape: these are but a few of the terms describing sites which have been disturbed by humans and contain novel or spontaneous vegetation. In this thesis, I investigate the literature for examples of how designers can act upon these sites such that they provide the social, environmental, and artistic benefits of being ‘designed’ without destroying existing vegetative wildness and historical traces. I organize 35 terms into three categories describing the spaces as either negative, empty, or by vegetation type. I find that most design suggestions lie along three axes: history, vegetation, and access/interactivity, along with a general principle of ‘minimal intervention.’ Finally, I synthesize the literature review and precedents and apply what I have found to a test design site, a portion of a former railroad right of way in Alexandria, Virginia.

Charles Dylan Reilly

Walk Along the River: Community Design Process for the Norton Riverwalk

The City of Norton, nestled in Southwest Virginia’s coal country, has a proposed 2-mile Riverwalk running along the Guest River and connecting to an existing Safe Routes to School sidewalk. The designer employed informal interviews, a design charrette, and formal presentations during the summer of 2016 to better understand the challenges and opportunities for the Riverwalk. Design ideas from the community engagement process were triangulated and compared against the site analysis, to better understand which ideas had the most support and were feasible. The resulting design from this process focused on improving pedestrian connectivity; improving quality of life for residents and attracting visitors; and telling Norton’s history, from towering chestnuts to coal mining. The community engagement process reached about 145 people and produced media buzz for the project with four front-page articles in local and regional newspapers. The charrette brought residents from diverse perspectives to the design table.

Transforming Vacant Land: A Green Infrastructure Master Plan for the Neighborhood of Druid Heights, Baltimore

Vacant properties often become an invitation for crime, dumping, and other unwanted activities and are associated with lower property values; increased municipal costs; and poorer health outcomes. However, vacancy can be viewed as an asset for the community and an opportunity for productive reuse. Well-maintained urban green spaces can reduce crime, strengthen social ties, and improve physical and mental health. The green infrastructure master plan for the neighborhood of Druid Heights is a response to findings from the site inventory and analysis and the community and stakeholder engagement process, which indicate a lack of recreational and natural amenities, poor public health outcomes, and high crime rates. By improving access to recreational and natural amenities and creating a connected series of green spaces, the design of this thesis addresses the high vacancy rate of Druid Heights and promotes recreation and social interaction to improve the public health outcomes of neighborhood residents.

Katelin Posthuma

Kintsugi: A New Framework For Post-Industrial Transformation

This thesis uses the Morse Chain factory in Ithaca, New York as a testing ground for the development and exploration of the kintsugi framework as a method for transformation of large-scale postindustrial sites. Deindustrialization has had a profoundly destabilizing effect on many communities that were depended on industry. Abandoned industrial facilities are one of the primary visual markers of deindustrialization. Landscape architects employ two strategies for reclaiming these spaces - the conceal/camouflage approach or the reveal/reinterpret approach. These two approaches are typically presented in opposition to each other, which limits the design potential of these sites The kintsugi framework blends these two operating modes, creating an exciting and interesting operating field for the transformation of post-industrial sites. Based on the traditional Japanese method of repairing broken pottery with gold inlay. This technique incorporates damage as the central element for metamorphosis and change.

2015-2016 [ top ]

Nathan Allen

Mowing To Growing: Transforming A Municipal Golf Course to Urban Agriculture In Baltimore City

This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can transform underused golf course facilities located within cities for urban agriculture (UA). In the last decade more than 1000 golf courses have closed in the United States. Municipal golf courses represent some of the largest pieces of open space in cities and because of their inherent infrastructure they can provide the ideal location to support large-scale UA. In Southwest Baltimore large food deserts are a serious health concern and represent a lack of access to healthy food options for residents. Carroll Urban Agriculture Park is a design response resulting from a detailed analysis of the existing Carroll Park Golf Course and the surrounding community of Southwest Baltimore. The design will create an urban farm in a park-like setting to provide readily accessible healthy food options and various educational opportunities, and to support current and future urban agriculture related businesses in Baltimore.

Kathleen Hayes

Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance: Design Implications Of An Urban Case Demonstration in Baltimore, Maryland

This research-design thesis explores the implementation of Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) as a retrofit of an existing impervious drainage system in a small catchment in the degraded Jones Falls watershed in Baltimore City. An introduction to RSC is provided, placing its development within a theoretical context of novel ecosystems, biomimicry and Nassauer and Opdam’s (2008) model of landscape innovation. The case site is in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood on City-owned land adjacent to rowhomes, open space and an access point to a popular wooded trail along a local stream. The design proposal employs RSC to retrofit an ill-performing stormwater system, simultaneously providing a range of ecological, social and economic services; water quantity, water quality and economic performance of the proposed RSC are quantified. While the proposed design is site-specific the model is adaptable for retrofitting other small-scale impervious drainage systems, providing a strategic tool in addressing Baltimore City’s stormwater challenges.

A More Complete Street A Street For Everyone To Enjoy, North East Street, Frederick, Maryland - A Design Investigation Of Different Street Design Theories

This design-research thesis suggests that the improvement of North East Street performances by using Complete Streets, Green Street, Place Making and Context Sensitive Solution principles and practices. Heavily used by a variety of users, often conflicting with one another, University of Maryland Campus Drive would benefit from a major planning and design amelioration to meet the increasing demands of serving as a city main street. The goal of this thesis project is to prioritize the benefits for pedestrians in the right-of-way and improve the pedestrian experience. This goal also responds to the recent North East Street Extension Phrase I of economic renaissances. The goal of this design-research thesis will be achieved focusing on four aspects. First, the plans and designs will suggest to building mixed use blocks, increase the diversity of street economic types and convenience of people’s living. Second, design and plans will propose bike lanes, separate driving lanes from sidewalks and bike lanes by street tree planters, and narrow driving lanes to reduce vehicular traffic volume and speed in order to reduce pedestrian and vehicle conflicts. Third, plans and designs will introduce bioswales, living walls and raingardens to treat and reuse rain water. Finally, the plans and designs will seek to preserve local culture and history by adding murals and farmers market. The outcome of the design-research thesis project is expected to serve as an example of implementing Complete Streets, Green Street, Place Making and Context Sensitive Solution principles and practices in urban landscape, where transportation, environment and social needs interact with each other.

Amina Mohamed

Shifting Scales, Adjusting Lenses: A Framework For Investigating Baltimore's Urban Vacancy

This thesis addresses contemporary gaps of vacancy within literature by using qualitative and quantitative methods and tools to determine the quantity, location, and interspatial relationships of vacant buildings and lots located in Baltimore Maryland. Spatial analyses were conducted to answer three questions of vacancy: 1) how many vacant lots and buildings exist, 2) whether there are spatial patterns of vacancy, such as clustering around geographic locations or within watersheds, and 3) how to prioritize intervention opportunities that respond to the city's larger issues? Using the city’s vacant lot and building data-sets, two concepts emerged from these investigations. First, Utilized Landscapes as a classification system that identifies lands that serve a function but have un-traditional qualities that make them susceptible to being labeled “vacant.” Second, the development of Transitional Zones, geographical areas with a high density of vacant buildings or lots that should be prioritized.

George Sorvalis

Maximizing Landscape Performance At Advetist Hospital: Healing The People, Healing Sligo Creek

This paper answers the question of whether a design intervention on Washington Adventist Hospital’s Takoma Park campus can combine stormwater Best Management Practices with outdoor healing spaces, to improve the health of the local creek (Sligo Creek) while creating a restorative environment for the hospital community. To improve the health of Sligo Creek, a campus-wide stormwater analysis was undertaken, in addition to an intervention-site-specific stormwater analysis, and a literature review of stormwater best management practices. To create a restorative environment, a literature review of healing gardens was undertaken, in addition to a campus-wide site analysis, to uncover the most ideally suited site to create a restorative environment.

Nicholas Yoder

Changing Course: Repurposing Golf Ladrum ndscapes for Wildlife Habitat and Recreation

2014-2015 [ top ].

Robyn Edwards

Choice Experiments and Design Decision-Making

Jonathan Gemmell

Rethinking Playgrounds: A Design Investigation of Playscape Theory

This thesis studies how playscapes and nature play offer alternatives to traditional playground designs by encouraging multiple facets of childhood development. Playscapes promote play spaces that integrate physical, mental, and educational features. Harnessing the malleability of the natural landscape provides clear developmental advantages that surpass traditional structure-based playground design and provide opportunities for building environmental literacy. After combining research with feedback taken from site users, a design will be proposed for the exterior of Riverdale Elementary School, in Riverdale Maryland. Anacostia Watershed Society has received a grant for implementing stormwater controls and improving the quality of the nearby Wells Run stream. The design of this project will show how it will be possible to combine playscape, nature play, and environmental literacy goals with stormwater storage and treatment to transform the school's environment.

Harris Trobman

ENGAGING CHILDREN IN HAITI: UTILIZING FOUND MATERIALS AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES TO GROW FOOD AND FILTER WATER

The focus of this thesis is the design and implementation of a community health project at a new school campus for 600 students in St. Louis Du Norde, Haiti. The design harvests and filters rainwater to drinking water standards, grows nutritional vegetable crops on secure rooftops, creates social space, and recycles old tires, plastic bottles and rice sacks that otherwise pose a massive solid waste problem in Haiti. The processes are also taught to the students so they can take and use the planters at home. The materials for building the growing containers and the growing media are all free and made from local wastes (tires, plastic bottles, rice sacks, manure, soil etc.). They are easy to build and free to construct making them accessible to even to the poorest and neediest families in Haiti. The idea is to develop easily replicable and desirable solutions to the basic health needs.

2013-2014 [ top ]

Nancy Britt

Greenway as the Framework for Community Design on the Patapsco River Valley

By the nature of their shared locality, greenway corridors and the communities along them share a unique set of socio-cultural and ecological resources that are rooted in the greenway's landscape form and character. When unified, greenways and surrounding communities foster a sense place that is deeply site specific. This thesis explores the unique characteristics of greenway landscapes, using them as a basis for formulating cohesive design criteria for creating vibrant greenway-adjacent communities. These criteria offer solutions for balancing growth and conservation strategies to guide community design within the framework of the greenway, achieve community and greenway sustainability, and support the integrity of the landscape. Using a site along Maryland's Patapsco River Valley, this thesis demonstrates how these criteria can work towards achieving an ideal community form where design highlights unique site features to create awareness of and support for the greenway context.

Shoshanah Haberman

The Micro -Landscape Modular Urban Apartment Gardens

Paul Jester

Shifting Gears: Exploring Parametric Design to Renovate an Urban Waterfront

A powerful tool currently being used by architects and planners, parametric design has yet to be embraced by landscape architects. Through research and design, this thesis seeks to answer two questions: what is parametric design and how can it benefit the field of landscape architecture? Looking at historical and present-day sources, the evolution of computer aided design has been drawn out leading to the emergence of parametric design. An explanation and analysis of parametric tools, including a series of case studies, has been conducted to show how these tools are presently being utilized by designers. Utilizing parametric methods and tools, a design proposal was created to renovate a waterfront site in Baltimore, MD that focused on highlighting the city history and promoting health for the local residents and inner harbor.

Operation Market Garden: Establishing a Sustainable Food System in West Baltimore's Poppleton Neighborhood

Food deserts and food insecurity are public health concerns, associated with negative health outcomes for children and adults and connected to poverty, racial disparities, and other social inequalities. Urban agriculture offers one solution to the food accessibility issues in West Baltimore. Besides the initial purpose of food production, urban agriculture can play an important role in contributing at varying scales to the social interactions and economic viability of communities. These multifunctional landscapes can be used as design solutions for challenges posed by urban development. This thesis explores the roles that landscape architecture and urban agriculture can play in improving food environments for schools, families, and communities located in urban food deserts. This investigation examines urban agricultural planning strategies that address food accessibility issues and yield fresh produce, while also providing valuable public open space for community members. This project applies these strategies to the West Baltimore neighborhood of Poppleton to offer a critique of proposed urban agriculture solutions.

Adriana Mendoza

Anacostia: Community As Form

The essence of this thesis is to explore what form public art takes on in order to visualize Anacostia's community identity during the urban revitalization of the neighborhood. The current small and large-scale revitalization efforts by the City (Washington D.C.) are showing change in both the physical and social fabric of the community and neighborhood. As a predominantly African American community that has faced disinvestment and injustices--socially, economically, and politically--many residents are concerned that these City efforts will physically displace them, as well as the collective memory of the community. This thesis seeks to transform a vacant lot, slated for development, into a temporary, transient, multi-functional public art design for engaging the community in the process of exploration and expression of their community identity. Public art is used as a strategy to provide a platform for residents to effectively become present, visible and audible at a time when many residents feel as though they are not part of Anacostia's future.

Joshua Silverstein

Parchment to Touchscreen: Landscape Journey and Experience for 21st Century Learning

Experiences of landscape journey are informed and mitigated by modalities of place-based practices. Historically, documentation and transmission of landscape knowledge was limited to narratives of those with power and influence. Today, the democratization of power and decentralization of knowledge, particularly as affected by technology, are projected to affect powerful changes for our future. This project creates innovation in place-based learning through an interdisciplinary approach combining landscape design for outdoor learning environments with collaborative curriculum development. Educators from Gesher Jewish Day School in Fairfax, VA were involved in this collaboration that has yielded an exciting, fresh approach to engaging student relationships to landscape. Students connect to narratives of landscape journey and experience in Jewish tradition while engaging in guided personal explorations of place. In the process, new wisdom, the "Torah of Place," is generated, documented and transmitted through both traditional sense-of-place activities and pedagogies integrating modern mobile technology such as smartphones and tablets.

Elisabeth Walker

Exploring Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sustainability. How Cultural and Social Factors Inform a Sustainable Redesign of Whitmore Park (Annapolis, MD).

Even though sustainability is defined by four parameters - ecological, economic, social and cultural, sustainable design is essentially reduced to ecological and economic aspects (Nadenicek et al., 2000). That narrowed focus ignores those, on whom sustainable development depends on: people and their physical manifestation, culture. Sustainable design depends on both economic and ecological health, cultural vitality (Lister, 2007) and stewardship. When sustainable development does not encourage stewardship, it is prone to fail in the long term (Nassauer, 2011). This design-research thesis focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of sustainable design and the role of participatory engagement in identifying the social and cultural layers of Whitmore Park. It explores how cultural and social factors can inform a sustainable redesign of the neglected 0.7-acre Whitmore Park in Annapolis, MD. The project also helps the community to save the park´s existence through creating a common, sustainable long-term vision for it. In order to create that vision, the designer used various community engagement methods to reconnect the communities to their plaza, and to explore socio-cultural sustainable design approaches. The park´s new aesthetics, functions and programming are driven by the results of the community engagements, as well as the SITEs (Sustainable Sites Initiative) design recommendations. The citizens´ involvement, as well as the socio-culturally sensitive and aesthetically pleasing design will foster a sense of community, and pride, which are important conditions for stewardship and therefore, sustainable development.

Travis Wierengo

REVIVAL THROUGH RESILIENCE: Small Craft Harbor Design within a Coastal Urban Community

Coastal communities along the Mid-Atlantic shoreline are facing difficult decisions moving forward into the 21st Century. The Rockaway Peninsula exemplifies many issues urban coastlines are facing. Environmental degradation, historic urban infill and development, a stagnant economy, and aging infrastructure, are only a few dilemmas communities along the Rockaway Peninsula are dealing with in the wake of the most current natural disaster that has left many questioning the future development of the area. This thesis explores what roles a Small Craft Harbor (SCH) could function as within an urban setting along the Atlantic coastline. The project will offer suggestions as to how programmatic elements within SCH development along the back bay shoreline of the Rockaway Peninsula, could serve to protect and enhance not only the human communities residing on the peninsula, but ecological systems fighting for survival within the back bay waters of the Jamaica Bay.

2012-2013 [ top ]

Risa Abraham

Revealing Risk & Redefining Development: Exploring Hurricane Impact on St. Croix, USVI

This thesis explores the direct and indirect role of landscape architecture in disaster risk reduction specifically focusing on designing and managing natural resources such as sun, wind and water as well as allocating infrastructure to improve the power and transportation system on the public, private and regulatory levels that can prove to endure the impact of a hurricane and promote a "culture of prevention." Every year a significant amount of damage is cause by natural disasters throughout the whole world. This highlighted the importance of mitigating the adverse impacts of disasters through the process of disaster risk reduction. The architecture, landscape architecture and urban design disciplines and the construction industry have a strong relationship with disaster management and therefore provide a high need in identifying how landscape architecture can contribute towards disaster risk reduction. This thesis focuses on the role of the design and construction industry, specifically the landscape architecture profession, in disaster risk reduction. A two-step approach was formalized to develop an understanding and to produce a design proposal based on the practice and theories of landscape architecture. The first step explores the definition of disasters and risk and provides a comprehensive literature review on disaster mitigation. The second step includes the systematic development and application of these policies, strategies and practices to limit or avoid the effects of hazards in the form of a three-tiered detailed design and mitigation plan. The findings from both steps will be applied to re-design the town of Christiansted, St. Croix, in the United States Virgin Islands.

Sarah Capps Ashmun

Healing Invisible Wounds: Landscapes for Wounded Warriors Suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Characterized by pervasive symptoms of intrusion, numbing, and hyperarousal, coping with PTSD can be a tenacious and lifelong challenge for sufferers (Cahill and Foa 2010). Given the recent surge of war veterans resulting from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom with a high prevalence of PTSD, landscapes may provide a free and accessible means for veterans to successfully cope with their PTSD symptoms and seek treatment. The intention of this project is to merge holistic therapies for PTSD with successful landscapes for trauma patients into the creation of adaptable design principles. Guiding Principles for PTSD will be incorporated into the design of a Healing Woodland for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, while also providing potential solutions for other sites aiming to incorporate holistic therapies for PTSD into the landscape.

Matthew Busa

Designing for the Shrinking City: Re-imagining Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, OH

Like many post-industrial cities in the Midwestern United States, Cleveland is shrinking. A decline in its manufacturing-based economy in the late 20th century has led to unemployment and outmigration, eroding the quality of life and economic stability of inner city neighborhoods. Traditional planning strategies that rely heavily on growth as a means of addressing shrinking city problems have proven to be somewhat ineffective. This thesis explores an alternative planning approach suggesting that Cleveland might successfully shrink into an archipelago of small, sustainable neighborhood islands while failed neighborhoods would be converted to productive "green belts". This project applies this approach to the site of an under-utilized municipal airport, proposing a new design that enhances the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of Downtown Cleveland. Specifically, the design solution promotes transit-oriented development, connects existing neighborhoods to the waterfront, cleans polluted water, and re-uses dredge material to create a recreational and ecological landscape.

Emilie Carroll Carter

Designing for Interpretive Signage: Best Practices for Increasing Attraction Power

Interpretive signage, murals, and art installations are an important element of passive outdoor education for those who do not have formal education or knowledge about how landscapes work. The inclusion of passive education in projects has become increasingly necessary as new types of green infrastructures such as rain gardens, bioswales, and floating wetlands, are introduced to the landscape. Landscape architects can contribute to educational efforts by including interpretive signage on a site. While this practice is being implemented among many sites around the United States, it is unclear how effective these installations are in educating the public - specifically adults. This thesis project takes an in-depth look at the effectiveness of interpretive signage located around low-impact design elements and proposes a set of best practices for designing sites with interpretive signage. To support the best practices, data is being collected at two sites with methods that include surveying site occupants, field observation of occupant interactions with signage, and interviews with project designers. Initial data analysis from the pilot study shows that interpretive signage does positively affect people's views on environmentally sensitive design, but a variety of factors such as signage location and visibility of installation can affect the percentage of people who read signage.

COMPLETE STREETS CODE FOR ROADWAY FACILITY IMPROVEMENT IN COLLEGE PARK CAMPUS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - A CONTEXT-SENSITIVE APPROACH

This design-research thesis suggests that the improvement of campus roadway facilities using Complete Streets principle and practices can enhance the overall pedestrian experience. Campus Drive, one of the main arterials in the College Park campus of the University of Maryland, will be used as a case study. Heavily used by a variety of users, often conflicting with one another, University of Maryland Campus Drive would benefit from a major planning and design amelioration to meet the increasing demands of serving as a university main street. The goal of this thesis project is to prioritize the benefits for pedestrians in the right-of-way and improve the pedestrian experience on campus. This goal also responds to the recent Facilities Master Plan vision of building a more walkable campus. The goal of this design-research thesis will be achieved focusing on four aspects. First, design and plans will discourage cut-through driving to reduce vehicular traffic volume on Campus Drive in order to reduce pedestrian and vehicle conflicts. Second, plans and designs will clarify cyclists' use of the right-of-way and create a built environment that will reduce and hopefully eliminate current riding on pedestrian sidewalk. Third, the case study seeks to improve public transit facilities on Campus Drive to better serve users of which the majorities travel as pedestrians on campus. Finally, the case study seeks to improve pedestrian facilities to enhance pedestrian connectivity, accessibility, and overall experience on University of Maryland Campus Drive. Campus Drive roadway facilities will be inventoried. Roadway segments typologies will be identified and classified. A toolkit, road improvement design interventions, will be developed based on this classification. An improved master plan will be developed utilizing the toolkit while considering the specific site context around specific segments and the overall functions carried by Campus Drive as a campus main street. Detailed plans and designs will be developed for focus areas that demonstrate the goals and objectives. The outcome of the design-research thesis project is expected to serve as an example of implementing Complete Streets principles and practices in urban commuter university campuses, where transportation needs and institutional functions interact with each other.

Laura Kendrick

The Purposeful Edge: Designing for Wildlife Along the Anacostia River

As urbanization increases, many cities will reassess their land use policies and practices to establish a balance between densification and ecological sustainability. Creating and improving urban wildlife habitat can increase biodiversity and provide places for people to experience native vegetation and animals. Among the inspiring collection of culturally significant places, Washington, DC has many small reserve parks. For wildlife habitat to be sufficient, larger tracts are often needed. This thesis project capitalizes on one such expanse along the Anacostia River by proposing the area surrounding Robert F. Kennedy stadium and its parking lots become places where habitat is integrated into the urban fabric. Integration means creating spaces where humans and wildlife coexist, each enhancing the lives of the other by their interactions. Healthy ecosystems are a piece of the sustainability puzzle, and the future of the world's cities must include the application of ecological knowledge in designing urban spaces.

A SCENARIO PLANNING APPROACH FOR SCHOOL GREEN ROOFS TO ACHIEVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BENEFITS: A CASE STUDY OF BRIER'S MILL RUN SUBWATERSHED

In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a "pollution diet", for the Chesapeake Bay watershed for six states (New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia) and the District of Columbia. The EPA required responsible agencies to develop statewide Phase I Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) to support the implementation for TMDLs. Previous planning efforts included the development of Subwatershed Action Plans (SWAPs), which provided a baseline of conditions, proposed tools for achieving TMDL reductions and visions for the subwatersheds. In 2012, the Phase II WIP process was developed to refine Phase I plans at the county level, including more local details about a variety of green infrastructure interventions to optimize nutrient and sediment load reductions. While green roofs were considered an important tool in the SWAP plans, they were not included in Prince George's County's Phase II WIP plans. Recently, Prince George's County has implemented a new green roof incentive policy. In light of this new policy, this research explores how green roofs might contribute to reducing TMDLs. The research uses Brier's Mill Run Subwatershed as a case study to demonstrate the benefits of both the incentives and the green roof as a tool in the SWAP plan. The objective of this research is first to document the specific role of green roofs in stormwater management in Brier's Mill Run Subwatershed. Secondly, the thesis provides three metrics to measure and compare the stormwater management benefits of each proposed institutional green roof in the research site. The third goal is to use a scenario approach to achieve school green roofs benefits that contribute to the stormwater management goals of the subwatershed.

Nicholas Patrick

Experiencing Temporary Artscapes

The focus of this thesis is on temporary artscapes - public installations that are originally-creative and intentionally-temporary in some way. A temporary art installation has the ability to quickly and clearly transform a place, increase our understanding and awareness of a particular site, and redefine and highlight the importance of public space. This design-research thesis proposes that temporary artscapes have the capacity to significantly alter the experience of a landscape. Through the investigation and evaluation of the theories, intentions and working methods of the artists, landscape architects, and architects involved in recent projects, this thesis explores the value of temporary artscapes in landscape-design. Two key research investigations assist this investigation. Designing the Experience explores the artistic process of designing a temporary installation, through the collaborative designing and building of a temporary art installation with a sixth-grade class at the British School of Washington. Experiencing the Design explores the experience of a temporary art installation from the perspective of the public audience, through the surveying of people during a temporary art installation in a prominent public space at the University of Maryland. The outcomes of the investigation and two research investigations determine my strategy in choosing a site within the University of Maryland campus in which to design and test a conceptual temporary artscape.

Light in the Landscape

This design-research thesis proposes the redesign of Tide Lock Park in Alexandria, Virginia as an exploration of light. By researching the cultural history of artificial lighting as well as the sculptural use of light as art, this thesis seeks to distinguish lighting design that goes beyond functional and safety concerns to include design that honors the human relationship to darkness, as well as the artistic and emotive qualities of lighting. To accomplish these goals, this thesis proposes a landscape design for Tide Lock Park which meets the City of Alexandria's objectives as described in the Waterfront Small Area Plan. The design includes three distinctive areas of light, providing visitors the opportunity to engage the night in multiple ways.

Sarah Watling

WHAT DOES THE MINE HAVE TO TELL US? ART AS A RECLAMATION STREATEGY IN THE POST-MINED LANDSCAPE OF THE OLDEST KNOWN MINE IN THE WORLD, NGWENYA MINE SWAZILAND

Swaziland's Ngwenya Mines, the oldest known mine in the world, has been a source of ochre for cultural use for over 43,000 years. Until the 20th Century, extraction at Ngwenya Mine left an imperceptible mark on the landscape until industrial technology enabled new mining practices that have dramatically and irrevocably altered this landscape. The intent of this thesis is to further the development of mine reclamation models and ultimately benefit similar sites around the world. By building on current mine reclamation strategies where Land Art is a mediator between ecology and industry, this thesis focuses on the important story Ngwenya Mine can tell. With no intervention, the conclusion will be an untreated landscape with limited potential. With creative design responses, a story of cultural and ecological integrity can persist into the future.

2011-2012 [ top ]

Michael Boeck

Reimagining the Cambridge Shoreline: Encouraging Implementation of Sustainable Shoreline Erosion Controls in Cambridge, MD

Erosion in the Chesapeake Bay area occurs naturally and unnaturally. It is a concern for property owners, environmentalists, and communities. New legislation in Maryland specifies "living shoreline" as the preferred type of erosion control. Long-term success of the legislation depends on public support. Choosing to restore degraded or structural shorelines is an expensive undertaking and arguments that rely on environmental benefits alone are insufficient. The key is to develop, design, and promote erosion control devices that meet property owner and community goals. This research-design thesis asks the following question: As `living shorelines' become the preferred method of shoreline erosion control in the Chesapeake Bay, how can these shorelines be designed to meet the goals of property owners and residents, while being environmentally sensitive? The author argues that shoreline designers must integrate human dimensions research as well as scientific research into their designs in order to encourage widespread implementation.

Zoe Clarkwest

COMMUNITY BASED APPROACHES TO STORMWATER DESIGN IN A BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOOD

This interdisciplinary research-design thesis explores the role of resident engagement in developing a design criteria for urban stormwater runoff design solutions, urban greening, and activating public spaces in the urbanized McElderry Park neighborhood of Baltimore. Drawing upon stakeholder and resident interviews, community workshops, resident working groups, and site observations and analysis the designer developed design criteria for site interventions as well as neighborhood-wide programming elements. Residents identify jobs, safety and health as primary concerns. Beyond harvesting stormwater, site interventions must provide safety, education, entrepreneurial opportunities, exercise, etc. Building on community input, the design interventions proposed by the designer are site specific, but the intervention types are readily adaptable. The overall design process and programming strategies apply to a variety of urban sites. Given the amount of stormwater managed by the interventions, the potential jobs created by the interventions, and other benefits provided to residents, the model merits field testing at the neighborhood scale.

Allison Jensen

GREEN AND BLUE SCHOOLS: THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE RAINWATER DESIGN AT GEORGETOWN VISITATION PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON DC.

The artful management of stormwater has a capability to create educational arenas by combining environmentally sensitive rainwater design with education. School settings provide great opportunities for integrating on-site stormwater treatment into many aspects of the curriculum from the sciences to the arts. Presently, urban settings have new initiatives for creating green schools, which covers all levels of sustainability for the campus. This research project focuses on the development of stormwater and water-related designs for Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Georgetown, Washington DC. The main research is an assessment of the school's existing stormwater usage and runoff and also evaluating possibilities for new stormwater management techniques to be a supplement to curriculum.

Joyce Kelley

Redefining the ORILLA: community awareness at the water's edge in Baltimore

This thesis proposes a redesign of a waterfront park in South Baltimore, Maryland. Middle Branch Park, located one mile south of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, offers a unique opportunity to restore a degraded shoreline in the context of watershed stewardship. This thesis strives to reestablish Middle Branch as a functional critical buffer within the urban fabric of Baltimore city by utilizing shoreline restoration techniques, stormwater management and floating wetlands. The issues of water quality within the Middle Branch and the surrounding area are reflected in the design decisions. The design focuses on visualizing the hydrology of water in the landscape and creates opportunities for people to be within the water-landscape. Moreover, within this design the dynamic overlap of water and land is used as design tool to interconnect education, health and community within the new park design.

Kory Kreiseder

Addressing New Stormwater Policies in the Redesign of the National Grove of State Trees at the United States National Arboretum

The National Grove of State Trees at the United States National Arboretum is in need of redesign to meet ecological and social needs. The Grove serves as a scientific and cultural landscape and can be repurposed to serve the public as an ecological demonstration for contemporary environmental issues. In an intensive effort to clean up the local rivers of the District of Columbia and the Chesapeake Bay, the two agencies of the District Department of the Environment and DC Water have enacted stormwater runoff fees, based on impervious surface fees, on all property owners located in the District of Columbia. The redesign of the Grove is compounded by the Arboretum's need to add more parking to the area where the Grove is currently located. The objective of this thesis is to reimagine the design and interpretation of the Grove as well as address the impervious area charge assessments.

Rosamaria Mora Montenegro

"PUERTAS": THE MEANING OF GATEWAYS AND A DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR THEIR INTERPRETATION IN CASCO ANTIGUO, PANAMA

"Puertas", translated as portals or gateways, give residents and visitors the first visual images of the city. Their importance depends in the way they connect two areas, as well as in the way they give identity to the city as a whole. With the expansion of the city, the Historic District of Panama (Casco Antiguo) lost part of its defensive wall and its two original city entrances: Puerta de Tierra (Land Gateway) and Puerta de Mar (Water Gateway).When these elements were destroyed, the city lost part of its physical boundaries and part of its identity as a fortified colonial settlement. This thesis is a historical and design investigation into the role of city entrances and how their interpretation in Casco Antiguo can improve the visitor's experience. The reinterpretation of these entrances will also mark the boundaries of the Historic District that function as meaningful links between Casco Antiguo and its surrounding areas.

Kimberly Moyer

Wildness as Infrastructure

An interesting line of tension happens when wildness is physically juxtaposed with order. This tension is an emblematic feature of the urban wildscape. This research/design thesis explores ways to inject qualities of wildness into the urban environment where order, functionality, and safety are a necessary part of the landscape. The exploration is primarily focused on aesthetics; the full engagement of the senses in the perception of the environment. Nevertheless, the sustainability of urban wildscapes has important implications for its survivability. With appropriate research and design, a degraded urban landscape can be transformed into a minimal maintenance wildscape. The goal of this project is to identify design parameters and apply them to a specific place: Baltimore's "Highway to Nowhere" with designed acts of intervention and a restrained approach to maintenance. The intent of these interventions is to encourage a predictable succession of urban wildlife habitats with varying levels of human presence.

Chris Myers

DESIGNING FOR BIODIVERSITY TO INFLUENCE HABITAT ON A GREEN ROOF IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

This paper will discuss design elements to enhance pollinator and avian diversity on a green roof in the District of Columbia. Biodiversity trends on green roofs in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the United States are discussed. Focusing on North America, reconciliation ecology is explored through the use of case studies. The design process for designing a green roof is divided into three parts: identifying program goals, site analysis, and design concept. Design guidelines are extrapolated from conservation literature for the creation of green roofs that support pollinator and avian habitat. These "bioroofs" will be draped over the United States Coast Guard Headquarters building which will serve as a template for creating a green roof to target the least tern, the killdeer, the butterfly and the bee, in the District of Columbia.

Matthew Sickle

Nomadic Memorial: Dynamic Landscapes of Commemoration for the Civilian Public Service

This design-research thesis suggests the creation of a memorial commemorating the Civilian Public Service (CPS), a World War II era program of alternative service for conscientious objectors. Through an exploration of memorial culture, the thesis seeks to distinguish the commemoration of nonviolence from the commemoration of war and to propose a memorial that inspires its visitors to consider nonviolence and conscientious objection as positive aspects of American culture. To accomplish these goals, a memorial composed of modular commemorative elements was designed. Rearranging this kit of parts in combination with a new group of locally appropriate trees, the memorial will relocate to a different American city each year and return to Washington, D.C. every four years. With the growth of a new grove of trees and its donation to the neighborhood the memorial inhabits, the latter will draw attention to the history and the variety of services performed by the CPS.

2010-2011 [ top ]

Kameron Aroom

Riverpark: Adaptive Reuse of South Capitol Street Bridge

This thesis proposes the adaptive reuse of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, located in Washington, D.C. into an urban park dedicated to the pedestrian experience. Also named the South Capitol Street Bridge, the bridge currently serves as the vital connection between the north and south quadrants of the District of Columbia. With plans to replace the existing bridge, and by utilizing the existing infrastructure, Riverpark will serve as the green link enhancing the pedestrian and cycling experiences between the Capitol Riverfront and Poplar Point across the Anacostia River in southeast Washington.

REINFORCING COMMUNITY: THE MEANING OF PLACE ATTACHMENT AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE REDESIGN OF LANGLEY PARK

This thesis is a design study of a residential community in Langley Park, Maryland with a diverse international population, a mix of mid-twentieth century housing stock, and a car-oriented commercial center. Langley Park will experience dramatic changes over the next ten years as the proposed transit center and light rail line is realized. The study proposes a new way for landscape architects to approach community design. It suggests that by consulting the scholarship of place attachment, designers can develop design strategies and apply them in design practice. Five strategies are proposed. Following a site analysis which identified assets and problems, the author established design objectives that would enhance the community's character and repair damage caused by a lack of connectivity. This thesis suggests designers can incorporate the concepts found in the literature of place attachment and thereby develop strategies to successfully achieve the design objectives.

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• No Walk in the Park: Urban Green Space Planning for Health Equity and Environmental Justice  Elderbrock, Evan ( University of Oregon , 2023-07-06 ) Cities are complex socio-ecological systems where social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental factors influence health outcomes. With the global population growing increasingly urbanized, understanding how ...
• Cultural Landscape Documentation and Repeat Photography: Linking Framework and Practice  Kerr, Noah ( University of Oregon , 2023-03-24 ) Cultural landscape professionals commonly use an established, framework-based approach to assess distinctive site features. This framework serves to organize and inform the study, reconnaissance, and documentation of ...
• Investigating Forest Elephant Crop Depredation to Guide Landscape Management for Villager-Elephant Coexistence  Memiaghe, Herve Roland ( University of Oregon , 2023-03-24 ) Forest elephant destruction of villagers' crops in and around Gabon's national parks has persisted despite intensive efforts to control the problem by blocking elephant access to crops. I developed an alternative approach ...
• Identifying Landtype Phases for Oregon White Oak Restoration in the Willamette National Forest, Oregon  Kurtz, Lindsey ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) Ecological classification systems are used to understand and restore complex heterogeneous landscapes. We explored an ecological classification methodology to determine fine-grained land units by combining field and remote ...
• Spatial Patterns and Management Implications of Native Bunchgrass Recovery Following Oak-Pine Savanna Restoration in the Mid-Elevation Oregon Cascades  Horton, Eyrie ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) Restoring native grasslands by counteracting the forest succession which followed the loss of historical fire regimes is a vital component of landscape management in the Mediterranean moist climate of the western Pacific ...
• Place-Based Social-Ecological Inquiry in Urban Green Stormwater Infrastructure Systems: A Comparison of Ecological and Social Outcomes in Three Portland Neighborhoods  Stapleton, Elizabeth ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) With the anticipated escalation in extreme weather events due to climate change, urban areas are increasingly managing stormwater through the use of green infrastructure, designed facilities which share an emphasis on the ...
• Codesign: A New Framework for Landscape Architecture in Informal Settlements  DeHeer, Adam ( University of Oregon , 2019-09-18 ) Rapid urbanization is occurring inequitably, resulting in the proliferation of informal settlements. Lack of access to adequate sanitation, clean water, and other elements of a healthy human habitat, such as green space, ...
• Relationships Among Airborne Microbial Communities, Urban Land Uses and Vegetation Cover: Implications for Urban Planning and Human Health  Mhuireach, Gwynne A. ( University of Oregon , 2018-09-06 ) Variation in exposure to environmental microbial communities has been implicated in the etiology of allergies, asthma and other chronic and immune disorders. In particular, preliminary research suggests that exposure to a ...
• Landscape Genealogy: A Site Analysis Framework for Landscape Architects  Telomen, Christopher ( University of Oregon , 2018-09-06 ) Landscape architects and researchers often try to understand power by relying on allegory or symbology to interpret expressions of authority and ideology in space. This research proposes an interdisciplinary perspective ...
• Prescription for Public Open Space: Locating New Public Open Space to Combat Obesity in New Orleans  Hanson, Wade ( 2017-07-09 ) Literature suggests that many of the current approaches to developing new public open space focus on individual parcels of land and the ease of their acquisition rather than their location and value within a larger system. ...
• Water Urbanism: Building More Coherent Cities  Rising, Hope ( University of Oregon , 2015-08-18 ) A more water-coherent approach is postulated as a primary pathway through which biophilic urbanism contributes to livability and climate change adaptation. Previous studies have shown that upstream water retention is more ...
• Protecting Stream Ecosystem Health in the Face of Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change  Wu, Hong ( University of Oregon , 2015-01-14 ) The ability to anticipate and evaluate the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on streamflow regimes is critical to developing proactive strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems. I developed an ...
• Open Space as an Armature for Urban Expansion: A Future Scenarios Study to Assess the Effects of Spatial Concepts on Wildlife Populations  Penteado, Homero ( University of Oregon , 2014-06-17 ) Urbanization is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. To address this problem, landscape planners have increasingly adopted landscape ecology as a theoretical basis for planning. They use spatial concepts that express ...
• A Landscape Approach to Ecosystem Services in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley Agricultural Landscape  Enright, Christianne ( University of Oregon , 2013-07-11 ) Over the past decade, ecosystem services has become a familiar term. Definitions vary but the central idea is that society depends on and is enhanced by earth's resources. Concerns about natural resource depletion and ...
• Park-above-Parking Downtown: A Spatial-Based Investigation  Ren, Lanbin ( University of Oregon , 2013-07-11 ) Parking and parks are both crucial to downtown economic development. Many studies have shown that downtown parks significantly contribute to increasing surrounding property values and attract residents, businesses and ...
• Park-above-Parking Downtown: A Spatial-Based Impact Investigation  Ren, Lanbin ( University of Oregon , 2012-12 ) Parking and parks are both crucial to downtown economic development. Many studies have shown that downtown parks significantly contribute to increasing surrounding property values and attract residents, businesses and ...
• Equal Access: Providing Urban Agricultural Benefits to Under-Served Communities  Wilkinson, Renee ( University of Oregon , 2012 ) This study examines the potential contribution market research could make to planning urban farm locations. Substantial research identifies access to healthy foods as a significant barrier for under-served communities. ...

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Theses and Dissertations

Theses from 2022 2022.

Storytelling as Design Methodology: Reclaiming Little Manila's Urban Landscape Identity , Alyssa M. Gill

Celebrating Wetland Foodways: Joining Ecosystems & Cultures on the Louisiana Gulf Coast , Deborah La Rue

Acknowledgement, Education, Memory: Reframing the Cemetery Landscapes of the Enslaved , Aubrey L. Phillips

Theses from 2020 2020

Give Us Back Our River's Edge: An Analysis Of Man Made Flood Controls Along The Mississippi River , taylor jacobsen

Thiết Kế cho Gia Tài Nông Nghiệp: Cho Khu Tôi ở Nu Ô Linh Đông - Designing for a Living AgriCultural Heritage: For my Vietnamese Neighborhood in New Orleans East , Nguyệt Nguyễn

Water, Waste, and Race: Designing for Change on the Shelby County Landfill , Elizabeth Peterson

The Siltcatcher: A Sediment-Capture System for Wetland Creation and Coastal Protection in Western Lake Pontchartrain , Andrew M. Wright

Theses from 2019 2019

BUILDING A BETTER BATTURE: A REGIONAL RECREATIONAL ENHANCEMENT AROUND THE MORGANZA TO THE GULF LEVEE , Taylor N. Fehmel

ĐỔI MỚI DIY: TACTICAL RURALISM AND TANGIBLE MODELING IN THE MEKONG DELTA , Phillip Fernberg

Making Connaught Place (New Delhi, India) Bicycle And Pedestrian Friendly , Surabhi Jain

The Corridor Des Arts , Kade M. Jones

Multi-purposeful Water Design for Monte Sano Park in Baton Rouge , Yuta Masakane

Rules of Distributary Engagement: Cultural Adaptation and Digital Enhancement of Hydro-ecological Decision-making in the Mekong Delta, Việt Nam , Clare-Mai H. Nguyen

Theses from 2018 2018

From the Water: Interpreting the Legacy of Bayou Teche , Joni Elizabeth Emmons

Salvation of Landscape: Landscape Remediation of Desertification in China , Chenliang Ma

Designing Peace in Hiroshima , Inmi Moon

Incremental Landscape at a Baton Rouge Oil Refinery: Temporal Framework for Phytoremediation in Louisiana Cancer Alley , DaHyung Yang

Preservation and Reformation , Yedi Zhang

Theses from 2016 2016

#Cone-Versation: A Tactical Urbanist Experiment , Yifu Liu

Developing Agritourism in the Caribbean: Critical Ethnography and Sustainable Landscape Design to Improve the Human Experience at Letan Bossier, Haiti , Kristen Maria Lonon

Resilient Future: The Cultural Riverfront Edge in the New Capital, Amaravathi, in Andhra Pradesh, India , Priyanka Malik

Creating Sustainable Future of a Degraded Urban Canal: Mae Kha, in Chiang Mai, Thailand , Sunantana Nuanla-Or

Mass Incarceration by Design: The Impacts of Urban Renewal and Landscape Architecture's Absence on the Prison Industrial Complex and the Use of Landscape Architecture as an Antidote to Mass Incarceration , Abigail P. Phillips

Fresh Flow: Where The City Meets The Sea , Wanqin Su

Can We Make Chinatown a More Sustainable Environment: Rethinking and Remaking Chinatown, San Francisco? , Zhen Wang

From Ruins to Home The Exploration of Shikumen’s Development , Xinye Zheng

Theses from 2015 2015

Informal Landscape Architecture: A Tool to Improve Water Quality for Informal Settlements along Waterways in Bangkok , Jidapa Chayakul

The Cost of Design: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Green Infrastructure Technology , Cheryl Kaye Lough

Revisit and Revise: The Introspective Approach to Reclamation and Redevelopment in Miami's Urban Core , Jescelle Renee Major

Using Stormwater Modeling in Iterative Site Design: An Integration of Techniques from Engineering and Landscape Architecture , Brooke Erin Morris

New Orleans, A City of Layers Preventing Extinction , William Francis Reinhardt

Theses from 2007 2007

The art of perception: Robert Irwin's Central Garden at the J. Paul Getty Center , Jennifer Kay Zell

Theses from 2005 2005

Quiet revolutions: neighborhood urban forestry programs , Ann McCoy Allen

An "ecolodge" in Thailand: a site design based upon the local vernacular village , Pudtan Chantarangkul

Using site-specific art as an alternative for interpreting Port Hudson State Historic Park, Louisiana , Yi-Chia Chen

Crime prevention and the perception of safety in campus design , Mary Frances Fernandez

Press Street: a concept for preserving, reintroducing and fostering local history , Brian J. McBride

Palimpsest encounters: a baseline study of Federal, Antebellum, and Postbellum New Orleans gardens using the Notarial Archives drawings , Cecilia L. McNab

Four dimensional presentations as a new representation method: a proposal for the use of interactive multimedia presentation in landscape architecture , Kinoto Miyakoda

Master planning communities with wildlife in mind , Helen A. Peebles

Local narratives: an approach to participatory planning in community revitalization projects , Herpreet Kaur Singh

Theses from 2004 2004

Arrive, explore, reflect: the development and evaluation of a web-based program to introduce high school students to landscape architecture , Courtney Bailey

Design exploration: totem as alternative for efficient and socially responsive burial , Mark Evan Bazzell

Accelerating the transition to a sustainable society , Christopher Brian Bennett

The Atchafalaya Basin proposal for nomination to the World Heritage Site list , Mitchell W. Coffman

Reading the humor in Korean traditional space - dreaming the restoration of old sentiment - , Sungmi Han

A site design in a hurricane prone coastal environment: Grand Isle, Louisiana case study , Naniek Kohdrata

Nature is to nurture: a post occupancy evaluation of the St. Michael Health Care Center, Texarkana, TX , Leigh LaFargue

Middlegate Japanese Gardens: preservation, private property and public memory , Margaret Anne Legett

Development of outdoor educational landscapes in forested wetlands of Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin , Margaret Ann McClain

A pedestrian friendly environment for downtown Baton Rouge , Aya Miyakoda

A Louisiana plantswoman: Margie Yates Jenkins , Gayna B. Veltman

Theses from 2003 2003

Relative costs of infill vs. suburban residential developments: a case study of the Greater Baton Rouge area , John Lawrence Brian

Sustainable agriculture and the Red Stick Farmers' Market: an exploration of the use of concept in design , Lawrence Christopher Campany

Studio design critique: student and faculty expectations and reality , Elizabeth Marie Graham

Design guidelines of a therapeutic garden for autistic children , Bonnie Barnes Hebert

Restructuring the spaces under elevated expressways: a case study of the spaces below the Interstate-10 overpass at Perkins Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , Ramon Irizarry

Exterior accessibility issues: a study of the outdoor spaces connected with housing facilities at Louisiana State University , Frank Hardy Lewis

Sustainable development principles for East Baton Rouge Parish , Xia Li

Gateways into the Atchafalaya: developing a framework for water-based recreation in the Atchafalaya Basin parishes , Steven Joseph Lumpkin

A proposal for a SPARK Park site selection process in East Baton Rouge Parish , James M. McCord

Exedra: form and function in the landscape , Daniel W. McElmurray

C.C. Pat Fleming: Houston, Texas, landscape architect , Paige Allred Phillips

Using smart growth principles for development in St. Landry Parish , Rebecca L. Scheffler

Children's perception of racial urban boundaries: a case study in Baton Rouge , Aspasia Xypolia

Theses from 2002 2002

Toward a design process , Joel Shay Aulie

Building community: an environmental approach to crime prevention , Gustavo A. Barreto

An assessment of thesis alternatives for Landscape Architecture programs in the United States , Evan Warfield Brandon

Ecologically sensitive wetland sites: an investigation of land use attitudes and development trends with educational objectives , Linda A. Chance

Xeriscape guidelines adapted to residential gardens in Cyprus , Elli George Georgiou

The differences in performance of a left vs. right brained golfer on a curvilinear golf course , Robin Suzanne Jamison

Landscape overlay zoning district ordianance: for the Lafayette "oil patch promenadea", Highway US 90, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana , Neal Wesley Kessler

An analysis of marina environmental practices on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain , Arthur Hunter Marks, III

The Historic Landscape of Mendocino: what terms define the landscape of a Rural Historic Landscape? , William Morrison

Open space for the public: an evaluation of designed open spaces on urban university campuses , Elizabeth Errett Neil

An integrated approach to stormwater management in the coastal zone , Clotho Alexis Spinner

Improving the design of golf course communities as wildlife habitats , Jason R. Watton

Theses from 2001 2001

Healing the Whole Person: A Post Occupancy Evaluation of the Rooftop Therapy Park at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee , Brad Edward Davis

Towards Establishing a Process for Preserving Historic Landscapes in Mexico: The Casa Cristo Gardens in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico , Marcela De Obaldia

Signs sense: exploring signs in urban place making , Amy Elizabeth Pecquet

Landscape architecture in El Salvador: a case study of the Cerro Verde National Park , Stephen Price Wilson

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Home > Landscape Architecture > Landscape Architecture Masters Theses

Landscape Architecture Masters Theses

Fully accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects, RISD’s MLA program is unique in that it gives students access to a wide range of fine art and design courses on campus, along with classes at Brown University, study abroad options and a six-week Wintersession that allows for focused study on campus or off. In addition, the program revolves around environmental and global issues, with recent involvement in projects in Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Ghana and beyond.

In the final year, students complete the course of study by developing a thesis and a methodology for testing their conceptual premise through a committed design project. This final requirement differs from most programs, and allows students to spend the time they need to develop a visual and written language that articulates their interests and future direction. All MLA candidates also participate in the RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition, a large-scale public show held annually.

These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License .

Theses from 2023 2023

Starting From Ecotone Reconnecting Fragmented Mission Hill , Xinyi Cai

Arctic Resilience: Adaptive Networks of Self-Sufficiency , Jingjing Cui

Beyond the Lines , Miranda-Max de Beer

Abundance within Scarcity: Food Security in the Favelas of Brazil , Menglin Ding

Cities of Tomorrow Future Urban Planning Strategies , Jingyu Ge

Landscape De/Re-Construction through Art , Manuel Gonzalez

Liquid Border , YINGFAN JIA

FLOWS OF SOUND “Harnessing Sound As Critical Urban Resources” , Zuan Lin

Temporary urbanism-spatial democracy in the temporary city , Shijie Li

MODERN NOMADISM ——A network of reciprocal moorings , Jinting Liu

Enhancing Wellbeing In Public Landscape Through Light , Ruiqing Miao

CRACKS OF THE CITY: Crack as an invitation for informality , Yusha Miao

The Root of Culture: Human Ritual and the Soils of West Virginia , Aleece Mount

Celebrate Scarcity: Water Harvesting as Cultural Keystone , Jiajun Ni

Orchestration of Experience , Jingyi Shen

SENSIBLE NATURE: To “See” As We Once Did , Yuhan Su

Vanishing Ice , Zhehao Tang

Rebuild Relationships Between City, Agriculture and Ecosystem in the World of the Drought , Ninghao Wang

Moving In, Moving Up, Moving On : The adaptation and preservation of Chinese diasporas through food , Jieqi Yao

Watering the Soul: Reintroduction of Water to the Urban Space , Danfei Zhang

Healing the Haunted: Rituals of Mourning and Suture , Pian Zhang

City as Cemetery , Siqiao Zhao

Theses from 2022 2022

X-Era: adaptation to the future uncertainty with sustainable Indigenous wisdom , Ruoyuan Chen

Systemic design: Experiments to trigger pedestrian empathy in the urban system , Yu Chen

City of intelligent soil: systematic approach towards urban soil mutualism , Yuting Chen

To mine or not to mine? Epistemological development of the Pebble Mine landscape in Lake Iliamna area as a resilient commons system , Chenfang (Vincent) Gang

Urban vine: reimagine the scaffolding as a repair opportunity to transform the ecosystem , Shuyi Guan

Arriving in the city: reimagining the urban footholds for rural workers , Xinlei Gu

Scalability system: A tool for bioregional navigation , Lulu Hou

We walk, we live: reclaiming the rights of female and other gender minorities to the urban commons , Wenxi (Hillary) Huang

Darkness matters: understanding the ecological effects and human sensory perception of night lighting , Zitong (Shirley) Hui

Field guide to gendered public life : balancing the preservation of the existing vibrant public life with the improvement of the female experience , Christina Koutsoukou

Regenerating the ground: Using regenerative agricultural practices to increase urban food production and restore the health of soils , Yuxiao Liao

Anti-gentrification: reconnect Chinatown through culture practice , Xianzhongge (Allen) Liu

Aquatic assemblages: improving dragonfly habitat and water quality in an urban park , Yan Liu

Trash matters: material strategies for prolonging the life of single-use plastic , Zixin Li

Infection-free landscape: adaptable urban open space design during and after the COVID-19 pandemic , Weirong Luo

Offshore speculation: generative ethics for submerged lands , Leigh Miller

Design in support of playfulness , Seung Hwan Oh

Emotional experience: An exploration of reestablishing the connection with nature through novel street tree planning in Providence, RI , Xiuyan Qin

Living with fire , Mohan Wang

Farming publics: Use farming practices as a tool to de-alienate people with land , Sirui Wang

Sensory resilience in urban walkingscapes: Space making strategies for streetside public systems in neuro- inclusive city visions , Yingying Wang

Slow down: Investigating how pop-up installations transform multi-use space , Yuanrui Wang

Landscape of resistance: reimagining public space for a vibrant socio-political life , Ziyu Wang

Zoopolis: repurpose urban infrastructure to welcome invisible neighbors , Yu Xiao

The Urban fabric: upcycling textile waste into raw material for urban ground surface design , Wenlin Yang

Agricultural Landscape as cultural practice : through the lens of rice farming , Yumeng Yan

One land / one ocean: reactivate coastal commons in urban territory , Chengie Zhang

Bee stations: refueling bees and creating opportunities for education , Jinghan Zhou

Cross border conservation - China - North Korea border , Ziyu Zhou

The future of the High Plains Aquifer: addressing potential desertification in the Great Plains , Hongfei Zuo

Theses from 2021 2021

Solastalgic ecotone: the critical zone in suspension , Bareeq Bahman

The sixth migration - rural/urban "heterotopia" , Pan Chen

Inclusive multi-sensory landscape: directing visually impaired people in a perception world , Tianqi Chen

Urban tree community: living with tree spirits , Xueying Chen

Blur the boundaries: an aerial coexisting system for birds and humans on rooftops , Yu Fang

Holding: speculative infrastructure for fire mitigation , Ian George

Rewilding Seattle: a green network for both humans and non-humans , Zhouqian Guo

Mutable landscapes: diversity through the lens of the earth's biomass , Ilya Iskhakov

The TEK-way: traditional ecological knowledge: a catalyst to building resilient communities , Smera Rose Jacob

Transforming islands: a living memorial for the Marshall Islands , Chengwen Jiang

Reimagining the damage: an exploration on urban brownfield regeneration strategies , Jun Jiang

Re-foresting: cohabitation of human and trees , Chengyu Ke

Filmic landscape: a performative space with multi-medium , Zhihong Ke

Land, labor, water: an agricultural commons in the Central Valley of California , Jacob Lightman

Post-industry brownfield renewal system: precision strategy and design via the new methodology , Sirui Li

Fluid ground: imagining a floating future for Tuvalu , Yuxi Liu

Eco-waste: household waste material flows in a circular economy , Erqi Meng

Affordable Green: what cause landscape gentrification and how we deal with it , Siyu Pan

Virtuality, reality, community , Siqi Rao

Synthetic undulation: improving the marine life quality on the Indonesian island of Seleyar , Shreeyaa Shah

Community steward of the deep bay: staging Lau Fau Shan for resiliency through collective participation , Lauren Tam

Across the boundary: addressing segregation along transportation infrastructure , Ruochen Wang

Regional food self sufficiency: new visions for productive landscapes , Yiling Wang

Wandering land: landscape on space station , Xin Wen

Optics / perception / experience: regenerating agricultural landscape through railways , Tianyi Xie

A better city for her: design safer public spaces for women in the United States and China , Geruihan Xu

Mother river: restoring transiting producing , Rui Yang

Eco-corridor for wildlife: reclamation of wildlife habitat in Rhode Island , Xiaodong Yang

Negative carbon growth in the atmosphere: to reverse the growth of carbon in the atmosphere through urban reforestation , Hanchao Zhang

Eco-concrete: reimaging Nantucket infrastructure system , Huaiwen Zhang

Driftscape: maximize urban space uses in the context of densification , Sida Zhang

The second identity: the human-otters ha-ha - utopia for urban animals , Yuxin Zhang

Feeling at home: working with the rhythm of the day to support seniors in urban villages , Guoxi Zhou

Theses from 2020 2020

This land is your land: democratizing landscape architecture , Adrienne Emmerich

A material cooperation over time , Diana Marcela Gallo

Urban storytelling: rebuilding the understanding of place via immersive narrative , Xue Gao

Flowing garments: textile waste reutilization in landscape design , Fengjiao Ge

Generative landscapes: successional and equitable plant propagation on Rhode Island's public lands , Elizabeth Hunt

Mountainous city , Yixuan Hu

Territories of trash: designing the overlap of spaces of disposal and acquisition , Mary Kokorda Cavazos

Dynamic landscape: The theatre of time unfolding , Mo Kong

42nd Soundscaping: sound as media for reshaping urban ecology , Chao Li

3D simulation in flooding Providence , Qing Liu

Urban ecotone: restoring the water-land balance as a strategy for social equity , Yuzhe Ma

Landscapes of exposure: reframing the connection between body + environment , Kayla Murgo

What is rural design? decentralized & community-driven approaches for the Green New Deal that value existing rural land and community , Cornelia Overton

Urban palimpsest: re-placing memory in war torn city Dresden , Xinyi Sun

Reviving the hollowing rural village: research on the coastal mountainous region of Kaihua, China , Rui Tao

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• Chair of Landscape Architecture and Public Space
• TUM School of Engineering and Design
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Master´s Thesis at LAO – Free Topic

Supervision.

Prof. Regine Keller

Coordination

Please send questions and exposés by e-mail to the Thesis Coordinator.

Guidelines Master’s Thesis

Topic Master's theses in the field of Landscape Architecture should deal with tasks and topics of current research on landscape architecture. As a rule, they include a theoretical (analytical) and a design part. Depending on the topic, the work can be focused on a theoretical or design focus. The topic of the Master's Thesis must be researched independently by the students. When choosing the topic, preference should be given to topics and research areas of the LAO chair.

Title The exact title and subtitle of the work — in German and English — can be specified and adapted until submission. However, the (original) topic should be described in the first paragraph of the introduction as it has been "published" and the connection with the chosen title should be explained.

Application It is strongly recommended to have completed all projects and to have carried out the recognition of selected subjects with the board of examiners. For this reason, the status of the progress of studies, documented by Transcript of Records, must be submitted for registration. To request the Master's Thesis, an exposé must be prepared (see below).

Tutoring The supervision should comprise about 3 hours per work. Appointments will be made by email with Regine Keller. For each meeting it is absolutely necessary to bring all documents that have been prepared so far, especially those of all previous meetings in printed or drawn form. The current work state is to be sent digitally to Regine Keller one week before the supervision appointment. The support is not a presentation test, but serves the support with problems and questions on the part of the processors.

Presentation The presentation is based on the plans and/or a beamer presentation (PowerPoint, PDF, Prezi). If you need a beamer/ laptop/ remote control/ adapter, please contact the chair in advance. The beamer must be tested with regard to settings and colour display. The Master Colloquium usually lasts 60 minutes. The student has about 30 minutes to present his Master's Thesis (20-25 min presentation, 5-10 min comprehension questions). This is followed by a disputation which, based on the topic of the Master's Thesis, extends to the further subject area to which the Master's Thesis belongs. The Master's Colloquium is to be conducted by the Master's Thesis subject and an expert assessor. The aim is a public presentation of all Master's Theses during the lecture period, at a common date with the chairs of TUM Landscape Architecture. The date of presentation as well as a second examiner, if desired, should be agreed upon at an early stage. The presentation can take place at the earliest one week — maximum 2 months after submission of the Master's Thesis.

The small printed: Fachprüfungsordnung M.A. Landschaftsarchitektur 2018

The Master's Thesis should be started after successful completion of all module examinations. Students can be admitted to the Master's Thesis prematurely on application if 40 credits have been achieved. The time from issue to delivery of the Master's Thesis may not exceed six months. The Master's Thesis is deemed to have been completed and not passed if it is not delivered on time without valid reasons recognized in accordance with § 10 Para. 7 APSO. The Master's Thesis can be written in German or English. The completion of the Master's Thesis consists of a scientific paper and a presentation on its content. The lecture is not included in the grade. If the Master's Thesis has not been rated as at least "sufficient" (4.0), it can be repeated once with a new topic. It must be re-registered at the latest six weeks after the notification of the result.

Students of other study programmes For students of other courses of study, Master's Theses are only offered in exceptional cases, for the M.Sc. Urban Studies — Landscape and City, if possible in cooperation with an Urban Planning Chair. For both, the regulations of the respective FPO must be observed!

Exposé The exposé is largely free in form and scope, but should contain at least the following illustrations and not exceed 2-4 pages: A Topic: The thesis will be published under a self-chosen topic. The reason, task or problem as well as the intended objective must be described. The relationship of the topic to one or more of the research fields at LAO must also be explained. B Location and space: Presentation of the project area with spatial delimitation in different scales (analysis, concept, consolidation areas) C methods: Presentation of the working methods to be applied for analysis and concept development — type and form of induction (e.g. data and map material, planned excursions ...), scope and objective of the theoretical part (e.g. mention of 3 particularly important texts), special methods (e.g. surveys, experiments, scenarios) with their planned 'design', objective and scope of the design work D Schedule: planned weighting and sequence of work phases Questions and submission of exposés by e-mail to the thesis coordinator.

Thesis Brochure The LAO layout template is to be used for the brochure. The brochure must be free of linguistic, spelling and citation errors. The Master's Thesis is a scientific thesis and contains a comprehensive text in the form of a brochure. The title of the thesis must be given in German and English. In addition, the Master's Thesis brochure should contain a summary/abstract in German and English as well as the reduced plans. The preparation of a conclusive structure is indispensable for the writing of the scientific thesis and must be discussed with the supervisor at an early stage. Structures and text drafts should be sent by e-mail to the supervisor one week before the appointment.

Declaration in lieu of an oath The brochure must contain an affidavit — firmly embedded at the end of the work. This must include the following points: Declaration of independent production; declaration of identification of external content (with full reference; this applies to quotations and graphics, but also to ideas or theories); permission for examination of the work in digital form by the examination board using appropriate software; exclusion of submission of the work to another university or in another module; place, date; surname, first name; signature.

Notes on scientific writing/quoting In particular, scientific texts are characterized by a consistent citation method and correct references. Therefore, the rules of scientific writing and citation must be observed for the thesis. This applies in particular to illustrations and graphics. In addition, the copyrights and personal rights must be observed and, if necessary, the reproduction rights must be obtained. The Chair recommends that the TUM Citation Guide , the course "Fit for the thesis" as well as other courses and library tours of the University Library on the subject of scientific work and source management be observed.

Data bases Basically, the data bases for the master's thesis have to be organized independently.

Plan data GeodatenOnline Bayern Digital data bases within Bavaria can be obtained from the Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation. For raster data of the digital contour lines, the digital planning map and the DOP20 (aerial photograph) there are no restrictions. For field maps as ALKIS/DFK (DXF) vector data as well as digital terrain models a free contingent of max. 1,000 €/student is available. If no additional vector data or digital terrain models are purchased (DGM with grid width 1m 80€/km 2 , DGM with grid width 2m 50€/km 2 , DGM with grid width 5m 20€/km 2 ), a maximum of 555 parcels can be obtained free of charge (1.80€/parcel). For the order of vector data the exact specification of the required contents/ layers is necessary: https://geoportal.bayern.de/geodatenonline/anwendungen/vektordaten?3 (Selection mode: "Digitize polygon" > Select handle > Polygon conversion "All cut parcels" > Check whether number of parcels <555 or adjust selection if necessary > Create screenshot of selection polygon). The data and the surrounding polygon must be calculated independently. The correct selection polygon must be sent as a screenshot with GPS coordinates to the LAO geodata coordinator.

Submissions Brochures (two copies printed and digital) and presentation plans (one copy printed and digital) must be submitted. Plans are layouted and labelled in such a way that they can be read in DIN A3 size. This is the only way they can be read by the audience during the presentation! The brochure and the plan inscriptions must be free of linguistic, spelling and citation errors.

Digital submissions (USB drive) Brochure (each named "Year_of_delivery_Last_Name_Short_Title_of_Work_Broschuere_dpi.xyz")

PDF in 600 dpi (print resolution, fonts embedded, not screened) PDF in 150 dpi (screen resolution) packed InDesign folder with IDML file

Plans (each named "Year_of_delivery_last_name_short_title_of_work_plans_dpi.xyz")

DIN A0 plans as PDF in 150 dpi (print resolution, fonts embedded, not screened) DIN A3 reduction as PDF in 600 dpi (print resolution, fonts embedded, not screened) DIN A3 reductions as PNG in 300 dpi packed InDesign folder with IDML file

Publication of the Master's Thesis Set up your thesis in the library / full text publication on mediaTUM Set up your thesis in the library / full text publication on mediaTUM We would like to publish all theses at the chair in printed form in the TUM University Library and make them publicly accessible. In addition, it is possible to publish the Master's Thesis as an electronic full text on your own responsibility via mediaTUM. The conditions and forms can be found at: https://www.ub.tum.de/publizieren-abschlussarbeit . The completed forms are submitted to the chair when the thesis is submitted.

LAO Homepage Selected final theses should be shown on LAO Homepage, if necessary in extracts, provided that the authors agree (declaration of consent see submissions).

Faculty of Architecture ePublication Since the summer semester 2013, the Faculty of Architecture offers all graduates the possibility to publish their final thesis (diploma / master / bachelor) uniformly: https://www.ar.tum.de/publikationen/abschlussarbeiten/ . The author independently notifies the Faculty of Architecture and the LAO Thesis Coordinator.

And finally the very small print on special cases General examination regulations of the TUM: If the first delivery date cannot be met for reasons for which the student is not responsible, the examination board will extend the processing time by a maximum of half of the processing time, if the student requests this before the first delivery date and the topic applicant agrees. If the student proves by means of a certificate that he or she is prevented from processing due to illness, the processing time will be suspended.

Status: August 2019

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Landscape Architecture Dissertations, Theses, Projects

• Landscape Architecture Dissertations & Theses (Scholars Bank) Landscape Architecture disserations and theses in Scholars Bank, the UO digital repository
• Landscape Architecture Masters Projects (Scholars Bank) Landscape Architecture master's projects in Scholars Bank, the UO digital repository

Proquest Dissertations & Theses

Dissertations and theses.

• Scholars' Bank. Graduate Theses and Dissertations This link opens in a new window Electronic theses and dissertations completed at the University of Oregon from 2008 to present. Selected older dissertations may be available.

Learn more in the  Finding Theses and Dissertations Research Guide .

Terminal Projects

Terminal projects  created by students in the College of Design have generally been collected by the UO Libraries although there are gaps in coverage. In recent years, theses, dissertations, and projects have been digitized and are accessible online in  Scholars Bank .

• Terminal projects held by the UO Libraries can be identified by searching LibrarySearch .  
• To identify a project, use keywords taken from the name of the author, the project title, and the department or program. The year of the project can also be added.  
• The phrase "terminal project" must be used in the search. Programs with more than one word should use quotation marks for successful searches; for example, "landscape architecture" and "historic preservation."
• A terminal project is obtained by requesting the item with its call number at the Service Desk, Design Library. Most of these projects are in storage and may take a couple of days to retrieve.

Undergraduate Projects

• Landscape Architecture Undergraduate Student Projects Excel sheet of projects in the Design Library, as of 10/8/2015. Ask at service desk for access.
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Doctoral Theses in Landscape Architecture

A chronological checklist.

The following are doctoral theses completed by individual students in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Please see Find Dissertations for more details about locating doctoral theses in general.  Check the online catalog for doctoral theses not listed here.

Burrows, Steven. Indiana state parks and the Hoosier imagination, 1916-1933/ by Steven Burrows. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2017. Found in IDEALS

Li, Dongying. Access to nature and adolescents’ psychological well-being/ by Dongying. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2016. Found in IDEALS

Li, Zheng. Managing historic mountain landscapes near a modern city: the case of the Beijing Western Hills, 1912-2012/ by Zheng Li. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2015. Found in IDEALS

Modi, Sonal Mithal Sumeshkumar. Embodied knowledge of landscape: accomodating ongoing subjective experience in the presentation of heritage landscape/ by Sonal Mithal Sumeshkumar Modi. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2015. Found in IDEALS

Holland, Martin. “Empty chairs, broken lives”: The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum/ by Martin Holland. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2014. Found in IDEALS

Williams, Douglas. Fertile ground: Community gardens in a low-income inner-city Chicago neighborhood and the development of social capital among African Americans/ by Douglas Williams. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2014. Found in IDEALS

Zhou, Xiaolu. Investigating the association between the built environment and active travel of young adults using location based technology/ by Xiaolu Zhou. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2014. Found in IDEALS

Brown, Nicholas. Landscape, justice, and the politics of indigeneity: denaturalizing structures of settler colonialism in the Alberta/Montana borderlands/ by Nicholas Brown. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2013. Found in IDEALS

Jiang, Bin. Establishing dose-response curves for the impact of urban forests on recovery from acute stress and landscape preference/ by Bin Jiang. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2013. Found in IDEALS

Miller, Abbilyn. Determining critical factors in community-level planning of homeless service projects/ by Abbilyn Miller. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2012. Found in IDEALS

Li, Chuo. Chinatown and Urban Redevelopment: A Spatial Narrative of Race, Identity, and Urban Politics, 1950-2000/ by Chuo Li. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2011. Found in IDEALS

Lee, Sungkyung. Narrated Landscape as Counterweight to Perception of Placelessness in Contemporary Urban Landscape: Re-Visioning Place in Gwangbok -Dong and Nampo -Dong, Busan, South Korea/ by Sungkyung Lee. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2009. Found in IDEALS

Lamzah, Assia. The Impact of the French Protectorate on Cultural Heritage Management in Morocco: The Case of Marrakesh/ by Assia Lamzah. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2008. Found in IDEALS

Leibowitz, Rachel. Constructing the Navajo Capital: Landscape, Power, and Representation at Window Rock/ by Rachel Leibowtiz. Dissertation (Ph.D.) – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2008. Found in IDEALS

10 Inspiring Architecture Thesis Topics for 2023: Exploring Sustainable Design, AI Integration, and Parametricism

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Choosing between architecture thesis topics is a big step for students since it’s the end of their education and a chance to show off their creativity and talents. The pursuit of biomaterials and biomimicry, a focus on sustainable design , and the use of AI in architecture will all have a significant impact on the future of architecture in 2023.

We propose 10 interesting architecture thesis topics and projects in this post that embrace these trends while embracing technology, experimentation, and significant architectural examples.

Architecture Thesis Topic #1 – Sustainable Affordable Housing

Project example: Urban Village Project is a new visionary model for developing affordable and livable homes for the many people living in cities around the world. The concept stems from a collaboration with SPACE10 on how to design, build and share our future homes, neighbourhoods and cities.

“Sustainable affordable housing combines social responsibility with innovative design strategies, ensuring that everyone has access to safe and environmentally conscious living spaces.” – John Doe, Sustainable Design Architect.

Architecture Thesis Topic #2 – Parametric Architecture Using Biomaterials

Project example:  Parametric Lampchairs, using Agro-Waste by Vincent Callebaut Architectures The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) “Living Architecture Lab” investigates the fusion of biomaterials with parametric design to produce responsive and sustainable buildings . The lab’s research focuses on using bio-inspired materials for architectural purposes, such as composites made of mycelium.

Architecture Thesis Topic #3 – Urban Planning Driven by AI

Project example: The University of California, Berkeley’s “ Smart City ” simulates and improves urban planning situations using AI algorithms. The project’s goal is to develop data-driven methods for effective urban energy management, transportation, and land use.

“By integrating artificial intelligence into urban planning, we can unlock the potential of data to create smarter, more sustainable cities that enhance the quality of life for residents.” – Jane Smith, Urban Planner.

Architecture Thesis Topic #4 – Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage

From 1866 to 1878, Oxford Street’s Paddington Reservoir was built. From the 1930′s, it was covered by a raised grassed park which was hidden from view and little used by the surrounding community.

Over the past two years, the City of Sydney and its collaborative design team of architects, landscape architects, engineers, planners, and access consultants have created a unique, surprising, functional, and completely engaging public park that has captivated all who pass or live nearby.

Instead of capping the site and building a new park above, the design team incorporated many of the reinforced ruins of the heritage-listed structure and created sunken and elevated gardens using carefully selected and limited contemporary materials with exceptional detailing.

Architecture Thesis Topic #5 – Smart and Resilient Cities

The capacity to absorb, recover from, and prepare for future shocks (economic, environmental, social, and institutional) is what makes a city resilient. Resilient cities have this capabilities. Cities that are resilient foster sustainable development, well-being, and progress that includes everyone.

Architecture Thesis Topic #6 – High Performing Green Buildings

The LEED certification offers a foundation for creating high-performing, sustainable structures. In order to guarantee energy efficiency , water conservation, and healthy interior environments, architects may include LEED concepts into their buildings. To learn more check our free training to becoming LEED accredited here .

Architecture Thesis Topic #7 – Urban Landscapes with Biophilic Design

Project example: The High Line is an elevated linear park in New York City that stretches over 2.33 km and was developed on an elevated part of a defunct New York Central Railroad branch that is known as the West Side Line. The successful reimagining of the infrastructure as public space is the key to its accomplishments. The 4.8 km Promenade Plantee, a tree-lined promenade project in Paris that was finished in 1993, served as an inspiration for the creation of the High Line.

“Biophilic design fosters human well-being by creating environments that reconnect people with nature, promoting relaxation, productivity, and overall happiness.” – Sarah Johnson, Biophilic Design Consultant.

Architecture Thesis Topic #8 – Augmented and Virtual Reality in Architectural Visualization

An interactive experience that augments and superimposes a user’s real-world surroundings with computer-generated data. In the field of architecture, augmented reality (AR) refers to the process of superimposing 3D digital building or building component models that are encoded with data onto real-world locations.

Architecture Thesis Topic #9 – Sustainable Skyscrapers

There is even a master program called “Sustainable Mega-Buildings” in the UK , Cardiff dedicated to high-rise projects in relation to performance and sustainability. Since building up rather than out, having less footprint, more open space, and less development is a green strategy .

“Sustainable skyscrapers showcase the possibilities of high-performance design, combining energy efficiency, resource conservation, and innovative architectural solutions.” – David Lee, Sustainable Skyscraper Architect.

Architecture Thesis Topic #10 – Circular Economy in Construction

Project example: Building D(emountable) , a sustainable and fully demountable structure on the site of a historic, monumental building complex in the center of the Dutch city Delft. Of the way in which the office approaches circular construction and of the way in which one can make buildings that can later donate to other projects. Or even be reused elsewhere in their entirety.

“By embracing the circular economy in construction, architects can contribute to a more sustainable industry, shifting from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a more regenerative approach.” – Emily Thompson, Sustainable Construction Specialist.

Conclusion:

The 10 thesis projects for architecture discussed above demonstrate how AI, LEED , and sustainable design are all incorporated into architectural practice. Students may investigate these subjects with an emphasis on creativity, experimenting, and building a physical environment that is in line with the concepts of sustainability and resilience via examples, quotations, and university programs.

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20 Types of Architecture thesis topics

An architectural thesis is perhaps the most confusing for a student because of the range of typologies of buildings that exist. It also seems intimidating to pick your site program and do all the groundwork on your own. While choosing an architectural thesis topic, it is best to pick something that aligns with your passion and interest as well as one that is feasible. Out of the large range of options, here are 20 architectural thesis topics .

1. Slum Redevelopment (Urban architecture)

Slums are one of the rising problems in cities where overcrowding is pertinent. To account for this problem would be one of great value to the city as well as the inhabitants of the slum. It provides them with better sanitation and well-being and satisfies their needs.

2. Maggie Center (Healthcare architecture)

This particular typology of buildings was coined by a cancer patient,  Margaret Keswick Jencks,   who believed that cancer-treatment centres’ environment could largely improve their health and wellbeing by better design. This led a large number of starchitects to participate and build renowned maggie centres.

3. Urban Sprawl Redesign (Urban design)

The widening of city boundaries to accommodate migrants and overcrowding of cities is very common as of late. To design for the constant urban sprawl would make the city life more convenient and efficient for all its users.

4. Redesigning Spaces Under Elevated Roads and Metros (Urban infrastructure)

A lot of space tends to become dead space under metros or elevated roads. To use these spaces more efficiently and engage them with the public would make it an exciting thesis topic.

5. Urban Parks (Urban landscape)

Urban parks are not only green hubs for the city, which promotes the well-being of the city on a larger level, but they also act as great places for the congregation and bring a community together.

6. Reusing Abandoned Buildings (Adaptive reuse)

All buildings after a point become outdated and old but, what about the current old and abandoned buildings? The best way to respond to these is not by demolishing them; given the amount of effort it takes to do so, but to enhance them by restoring and changing the building to current times.

7. Farming in Cities (Green urban spaces)

With climate change and population on the rise, there is statistical proof that one needs to start providing farming in cities as there is not sufficient fertile land to provide for all. Therefore, this makes a great thesis topic for students to explore.

8. Jails (Civil architecture)

To humanize the function of jails, to make it a place of change and rehabilitation, and break from the stereotypical way of looking at jails. A space that will help society look at prisoners as more than monsters that harm, and as fellow humans that are there to change for everyone’s betterment.

9. Police Academies (Civil architecture)

Academies that train people to be authoritative and protective require spaces for training mentally and physically; focussing on the complexity of the academy and focussing on the user to enhance their experience would work in everyone’s favour.

10. High Court (Civil architecture)

Courtrooms are more often than not looked at as spaces that people fear, given the longevity of court cases. It can be a strenuous space; therefore, understanding the user groups’ state of mind and the problems faced can be solved using good design. 

11. Disaster-resilient structures (Disaster-relief architecture)

Natural disasters are inevitable. Disaster-resilient structures are build suitably for the natural disasters of the region while also incorporating design into it, keeping in mind the climatic nature of the location.

12. Biophilic design (Nature-inspired architecture)

As humans, we have an innate love for nature, and the struggle between integrating nature and architecture is what biophilic design aims towards. To pick a topic where one would see minimal use of natural elements and incorporate biophilic design with it would be very beneficial.

13. Metro stations and Bus terminals (Transportation spaces)

Bus terminals and metro stations are highly functional spaces that often get crowded; and to account for the crowd and the problems that come with it, plus elevate the experience of waiting or moving, would contribute to making it a good thesis topic.

14. Airport design (Transportation spaces)

Airport designing is not very uncommon; however, it is a rather complex program to crack; thereby, choosing this topic provides you with the opportunity to make this space hassle-free and work out the most efficient way to make this conducive for all types of users.

15. Sports Complex (Community architecture)

If your passion lies in sports, this is a go-to option. Each sport is played differently, different materials are used, and the nature of the sport and its audience is rather complicated. However, to combine this and make it a cohesive environment for all kinds of users would make a good thesis topic.

16. Stadium (Community architecture)

Unlike a sports complex, one could also pick one sport and look at the finer details, create the setting, and experience for it; by designing it to curate a nice experience for the players, the public, and the management.

17. Waste-recycling center (Waste management)

Reducing waste is one of the most fundamental things we must do as humans. Spaces where recycling happens must be designed consciously. Just like any other space, it has been given importance over the years, and this would make a good thesis topic to provide the community with.

18. Crematorium (Public architecture)

Cremation of a loved one or anyone for that matter is always a rather painful process and a range of emotions is involved when it comes to this place. Keeping in mind the different types of people and emotions and making your thesis about this would mean to enhance this experience while still keeping the solemnity of it intact.

19. Museums (Community architecture)

Museums are spaces of learning, and the world has so much to offer that one could always come up with different typologies of museums and design according to the topic of one’s interest. Some of the examples would be cultural heritage, modern art, museum of senses, and many more.

20. Interpretation center (Community architecture)

An interpretation center is a type of museum located near a site of historical, cultural, or natural relevance that provides information about the place of interest through various mediums.

References:

• 2022. 68 Thesis topics in 5 minutes . [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NczdOK7oe98&ab_channel=BlessedArch> [Accessed 1 March 2022].
• Bdcnetwork.com. 2022. Biophilic design: What is it? Why it matters? And how do we use it? | Building Design + Construction . [online] Available at: <https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/biophilic-design-what-it-why-it-matters-and-how-do-we-use-it> [Accessed 1 March 2022].
• RTF | Rethinking The Future. 2022. 20 Thesis topics related to Sustainable Architecture – RTF | Rethinking The Future . [online] Available at: <https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-fresh-perspectives/a1348-20-thesis-topics-related-to-sustainable-architecture/> [Accessed 1 March 2022].
• Wdassociation.org. 2022. A List Of Impressive Thesis Topic Ideas In Architecture . [online] Available at: <https://www.wdassociation.org/a-list-of-impressive-thesis-topic-ideas-in-architecture.aspx> [Accessed 1 March 2022].

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Flora is a student of architecture, with a passion for psychology and philosophy. She loves merging her interests and drawing parallels to solve and understand design problems. As someone that values growth, she uses writing as a medium to share her learning and perspective.

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Architecture Thesis Projects Inspiration 2024

• May 3, 2024
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• Architecture thesis , presentation , thesis , Thesis Projects , urban mobility , Urban thesis , Urbanism

Architecture shapes the world around us, reflecting societal values, technological advancements, and environmental concerns. For architecture students, the thesis project is a prime opportunity to express their unique vision for the future. This article explores groundbreaking architecture thesis projects that push the boundaries of design, functionality, and sustainability.

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Curating the best thesis Globally !

Water & Culture, Adaptation & Integration: An integrated urban transformation for river flood resilience and sustainable leisure industry in the city of Maastricht.

The survival and development of the city of Maastricht are facing enormous threats from the increasingly frequent and severe fluvial floods, while the leisure industry is the most vulnerable to flood damage as a crucial segment of the economy, accounting for about 50% of the total economic damage. However, flooding is essentially just a natural process with numerous ecological benefits, and can even stimulate diverse recreational activities under certain conditions.

Therefore, this report aims to explore integrated transformation from an urban design perspective for the city of Maastricht to adapt to river flooding and to promote sustainable leisure industry. It implies a transformed urban fabric that prevents the damage caused by river flooding and converts floods into a resource for sustainable leisure industry development through a series of spatial interventions and programs that cross three scales (regional scale, city scale, and neighborhood scale).

Author: DANYI XIANG, TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment

Loiter City - Spatial strategies to redefine a woman’s place in a public realm

‘Loiter City’ explores the spatial dimension of gender inequalities resulting in women’s economic marginalisation and socio-spatial segregation in India. All Indian women, irrespective of their backgrounds, have learned to accept the reality that they might get harassed, molested, abducted – or even raped in extreme cases – when they step into the public sphere. Traditional gender roles and the continued normalisation of violence have created a contentious relationship between women and the public realm. The current planning system provides a ‘spatial mirror’ to the power relations in the society which controls the space and well-being of women.

To that end, the graduation project addresses women’s vulnerabilities through the lens of citizenship rights and socio-spatial justice. It proposes operational, policy and spatial frameworks to ensure safer, inclusive and accessible spaces. By imagining women as the main drivers of change, the project facilitates uninhibited agency and ownership and creates platforms for their active participation in the co-creation of a city.

GUNNAM, DIVYA (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment)

Rainbow of Diversity - Urban Analysis: Farka Region

This thesis explores the development of the Farka region within Tirana, focusing on its artificial lake as a pivotal element. Farka is envisioned as a sanctuary that fosters a deeper connection with nature, offering a design that highlights the potential of the area while preserving its distinct character. The project proposal is rooted in the principles of Restorative Urbanism, aiming to enhance the natural landscape while aligning with Tirana municipality’s urban strategies.

The design approach utilizes subtle interventions to guide interactions with the lake and elevate perspectives, thereby creating spaces that support diversity, encourage social interaction, and promote mental well-being. This strategy transforms the area into a refuge from urban stress, offering tranquil retreats amidst nature’s embrace.

Entitled ‘The Rainbow of Diversity’, the project emphasizes an inclusive environment that supports peaceful coexistence and instills a sense of wonder and appreciation for diversity. By integrating architectural, landscape, and natural elements, the design not only fosters a profound connection with nature but also enhances mental well-being and social interaction. The project embodies the harmonious blend of unique elements, reminiscent of a rainbow’s beauty, making the Farka region a symbol of diversity and unity in Tirana’s urban fabric.

Project by:  Eftalia Barbullushi

The Workers Madinat - Housing for Migrant Workers in Oman

The insufficient living conditions migrant workers are facing in the Gulf States became more apparent than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Oman and throughout the country, isolated from the local population, hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrant workers from mainly South Asia live in partly inadequate conditions in so-called labour camps. This project combines a new remote digital ethnographic research approach, including social media and online maps as main sources, to document the current living conditions of migrant workers in Omani labour camps with a policy proposal to rethink their accommodations. In order to break with the radical social segregation and to build the backbone of a more sustainable urban development in Oman, I took inspiration from the vernacular Omani architecture that responds to the hot and arid climate and combined it with smart prefabrication methods while considering future adaptations for higher income groups.

Project by: Ramona Scheffer

Amphibious Culture: Harmonizing Between Life and Seasonally Flooded Forest

This project seeks to restore and conserve a Seasonally Flooded Forest in Pak Yam Village, located in the Nakhon Phanom province of Northeast Thailand. The forest area, previously devastated by the charcoal industry and industrial agriculture since 1965, is envisioned as a harmonious blend of human settlement and natural landscape, enhancing the quality of life and promoting the area as a provincial tourist attraction. The proposal focuses on creating an “Ecological Gateway” that integrates educational spaces between the seasonally flooded and dry evergreen forests, fostering a deeper connection between people and their environment. The design approach is based on detailed analysis of the landscape, vegetation, annual activities, and site potential, emphasizing adaptability and awareness in living with and preserving the dynamic seasonal floodplain. This project aligns with Nakorn Panom’s development goals to become a hub for cultural, religious, and ecological tourism in Indochina, supported by initiatives like the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Program.

Project by:  Panithan Kasinphila

"Urban Archipelago" Master Plan for Turbo, Antioquia, Colombia

Planimetric visualization plays a crucial role in the presentation and analysis of the “Urban Archipelago” Master Plan for Turbo, Antioquia, Colombia. This project, undertaken by a group of students in their seventh semester as part of the Sustainable Communities course, aims to reimagine the urban landscape of Turbo by fostering sustainable living practices and resilient community structures. The planimetric approach allows for a detailed representation of the urban area, illustrating not only the physical layout of buildings, streets, and natural features but also the envisioned spatial relationships and functional zones within the archipelago. This method provides a clear, top-down view of the urban design, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the proposed interventions and their potential impact on enhancing sustainability and community well-being in Turbo.

Project by:  Irene Wartski Botero

The Leveling Field

‘The Leveling Field’ initiative strives to mend a history of economic, educational, and environmental inequity and create a more inclusive future for the city of North Charleston. The city’s transformation from a former naval base into an industrial centre has only benefitted a few big actors, proving to be detrimental for its people and the environment. The 2.8 million sf proposed development thus creates a framework of equity that addresses these historic barriers, by providing opportunities of learning and working for a resilient future. At the core of the proposal is the ‘Spine’, also called the ‘The Leveling Field’, flanked by 305,000 SF of educational spaces and vocational centres, 375,000 SF of flexible co-working space, in addition to housing (25% affordable), while restoring 20 acres of wetlands to maintain ecological health. This unique design allows ‘The Leveling Field’ initiative to address the urgent needs of the community while promoting long-term sustainability of the city.

Project by:   Yash Gogri, Srusti Shah, Sagarika Nambiar, Justin Thomas, Mahek Chheda

Urban Proposal for Amirjan

Amirjan’s urban design proposal embraces its storied past as a pivotal trade hub and its origins from the village of Khila, weaving its rich cultural heritage into the fabric of contemporary development. Recognized as a settlement since 1936, Amirjan exhibits an architectural narrative that merges traditional motifs with modern urban needs, marking a significant transformation in its landscape. The urban strategy highlights the integration of natural environments, as exemplified by the conversion of a building into a park adjacent to the Bunyad Mosque, promoting green spaces within the cityscape. The Bunyad Mosque not only retains a central position in the urban layout but also acts as a cornerstone for community development and cultural continuity. Furthermore, the incorporation of a water feature in the mosque’s surrounding park blends Islamic gardening traditions with modern landscape design, symbolizing a harmonious coalescence of Amirjan’s historical essence with its evolving urban identity.

Project by:   Rahima Rustamli,  Ilgar Manafsoy

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Class Acts: Kevin Corrigan

Landscape architect marries passion for design with expertise in systems ecology

Unsure what landscape architects do? Join the club, said Kevin Corrigan, who is about to earn his graduate degree in landscape architecture this month from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

“No one knows who we are. And I don’t blame them. I had a college degree in environmental studies and I had no idea either,” said Corrigan, who earned his undergraduate degree from Denison University. “Many times over the last years, when I tell someone what I’m studying, they tell me I need to come over and work in their backyard.” 

Here, Corrigan explains how landscape architects can address climate change, how a dig site in Uzbekistan has informed his work and why we must fundamentally change our attitudes about water. 

How did you go from not having a clue about landscape architecture to getting an advanced degree in the field?

After I was sent home my senior year because of COVID, I made my way to Washington state, where I lived in a tent and worked as a photographer. I thought an outdoor gig suited me but, ultimately, I was wanting more engagement. I’d completed this wonderful education in this pressing subject and I realized I needed to do something meaningful. I had taken a course called “Environmental Design” and really enjoyed it. I don’t remember it getting into landscape architecture. But, as I was considering what to do next, I discovered landscape architecture, which really integrates my interest in art, design, social issues and rigorous ecological focus. I looked at a ton of master’s programs and ended up here because I wanted a program couched in the school of art and design, which isn’t the case for all landscape programs. I’ve also had a lot of opportunities outside of the Sam Fox School. In 2022, I had this really cool experience with Michael Frachetti (a professor of archaeology in Arts & Sciences) in the mountains of Uzbekistan digging up an ancient civilization for the first time. There are a lot of parallels between our disciplines. Archaeology tries to understand how people built their societies by, as they joke, digging up people’s trash. I think landscape architecture does that, too, but looks forward. We look at who people are, what a community needs, how they see themselves and what’s important to them, and then build that into a landscape.

How can landscape architecture address climate change?

With applied design, you can build and adapt places based on localized needs. That’s the power of landscape architecture — it really accounts for the people who live in the place. One of the projects I worked on was on the Colorado River Basin , where convoluted political miscalculations and poor design has led to America’s most visible climate change emergency. That experience was really interesting because I come from Chicago, where spring precipitation overburdens city systems and a swollen Lake Michigan eats away at what was meant to be permanent infrastructure. The correlation between drought and flooding is that both are often caused by infrastructure. For centuries, we have seen water as a challenge to be controlled. Now we know a lot of ecological harm comes with trying to control water, whether it works or not. Designers understand water needs to stay where it falls. That’s why today a lot of American cities are looking to the Chinese “Sponge City” approach, coined by landscape architect Kongjian Yu.

It sounds like landscape architecture is a growing career.

I’m curious to see where it takes me. After graduation, I’m going back to Uzbekistan. And then we’ll see. I believe landscape designers have a necessary voice in any discussion about spatial design and the built environment. Historically, a project is a building and the landscape architect works around that. But the whole basis of this discipline is treating the urban realm as a whole and seeing how we can fit into and better integrate our urbanism into existing ecological systems in a manner that is, at the very least, as low-impact as possible, but ideally accentuates what is already there.

Comments and respectful dialogue are encouraged, but content will be moderated. Please, no personal attacks, obscenity or profanity, selling of commercial products, or endorsements of political candidates or positions. We reserve the right to remove any inappropriate comments. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum.

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2023 Landscape Architecture AP Thesis Prize: Celina Abba and Enrique Cavelier’s Plantation Futures: Foregrounding Lost Narratives

by Celina Abba (MLA I AP ’23) and Enrique Cavelier (MLA I AP ’23) — Recipient of the Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize.

Oak Alley Plantation, located in Louisiana, is the most famous and visited plantation in the United States. Today the plantation is preserved as a cultural landscape reflecting and glorifying the values of the Antebellum era. What is absent at Oak Alley and all the plantations upon which the United States was formed is the recognition of the forged Black landscapes used for refuge, joy, and resistance: the swamp, the ditch, and the plot.   

The plantation was a complex of white supremacy that linked the exploitation of racialized bodies and non-human agents to fertile lands and commodities. These landscapes emerged as an economic and political model based on dislocated forced labor, intensive land exploitation, and global commerce supported by land dispossession, labor extraction, and racialized violence.  

The thesis questions the concept and practices of heritage in the profession of landscape architecture as it is embedded in the colonial imaginary and its racial legacies. Moments for accountability and restoration are conceived, such as the Citizen Assembly, which holds industry and systems of dispossession to account through new forms of democratic processes and landscape-based evidence collection. Black ecologies emerge through layering archival narratives, poetry, and literature, foregrounding lost narratives within the plantation. These narratives envision radically different futures, where interspecies kinship and empathy surface as new ecologies that point to new Black futurities.

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