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60 522 Campus Akerselva

Emnenavn på Norwegian Bokmål: 
Campus Akerselva
Credits: 
24
Course code: 
60 522
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching semester: 
2018 Autumn
Assessment semester: 
2018 Autumn
Language of instruction: 
English
Year: 
2018
Maximum number of students: 
24
Required prerequisite knowledge

Open for students in Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Mandatory first semester course  for Master in Landscape Architecture. Basic knowledge in architecture, urbanism and landscape. 

Course content

The aim of the studio is to address the topic of how to create a campus for AHO, in connection  with the existing landscape and the city, by designing small scale interventions, to facilitate new  use of the campus. Today, the Oslo School of Architecture and Design is situated in an area with a complex  natururban tissue, integrating a wide range of programs and activities, structures and  infrastructures, with many stakeholders and interests. There is a need to reimagine how the  school relates, interacts, and contributes to define, its environment. The studio seeks to contextualise the site in its surroundings, taking on both a contemporary and  historical view. We explore how human presence and natural forces have changed the landscape  throughout time, and take into account the complexity of the interplay between historical  forces,structures and elements. Using our understanding for an ever changing landscape as a  premise, we design solutions for public spaces, that in addition to having a historical perspective,  integrate the aspect of future sustainability. We will experiment with hypothesises for what  characterizes concepts that are valuable over time, that integrate site-specifics, seasonal cycles,  and achieves significant impact through small scale design intervention.    

In 1933, Akerselva was the first area to be regulated as a water park in Oslo, by landscape  architect and city gardener Marius Røhne. Today, the park area is widely used by the inhabitants  of Oslo, all throughout the year. The area referred to as ​Campus Akerselva​, is comprised of the  areas between; and tangent to; the three university level educational institutions located just north  of the Vulkan Complex. The institutions mentioned are the Oslo School of Architecture and Design  (since 2002), Oslo Art Academy (2010), and Westerdals School of Communication (2011). Despite 
the three schools being located closely together, and with overlapping and related disciplines,  there is little to no sense of a campus tying the institutions together. AHO has recently initiated a new five year program for Landscape Architecture, the upcoming  curriculum for which will be in need of more outdoor spaces and testing grounds for studio work,  projects, and big scale landscape models. An assessment of opportunities has been conducted  to map potential avenues of development, aimed at addressing these needs, as well as general  development of the school, the shared campus, and the school surroundings. 

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The course presents the students with a theoretical understanding-, and a framework for  assessing and understanding the landscape, building on key concepts for designing and  evaluating interventions in public spaces. Over the course of the semester we will engage in theoretical discussion, focusing on the  application of different theoretical perspectives to specific cases, and aspects of the Akerselva  Campus. As a student, you will acquire knowledge about the frameworks for mapping and understanding  the complex dynamics of the landscape and its processes, complete with accurate terminology,  building on relevant theories. In addition you will become familiar with mapping and design  processes, knowing different stages, process elements, and other key concepts.

Skills:

The coursework relies on basic tools and software within landscape design in order to represent  spatial and material conditions. Examples of these are Autocad, Arc GIS, Adobe package, 3D  modelling programs (Civil, Rhino), and others.     We will apply various tools for mapping, analyzing, and assessing sites, and capture insights  about needs, challenges, and opportunities for design. Through the creative group process of  integrating insights from mapping into feasible designs, you will learn key principles and tools for  designing and running creative processes: Both individually and in groups.    

General competence:

The course aims to develop the students ability to combine and integrate insight about the  landscape in a creative process, leading to a specific design, that can convincingly contribute to  achieve specific development aims for the area. Graduating from the course, students will have developed awareness of how various aspects and  factors affects a specific site, and will be able to describe these factors from a theoretically  informed perspective. Using mapping tools, they are able to derive insights about the specificity  of the site, and review those insights in both a theoretical and an applied perspective. Finally, using a conscious creative process, they are able to integrate theoretical and applied perspectives  to device designs that take site specific aspects into account, and make meaningful interventions.  

Working and learning activities

The studio is organised around three phases: 

01  Mapping phase. Group work. Contextualising the site. GIS-based mapping and series of walks on  site. Lectures by experts, stakeholders and users.    

02  Concept phase. Individual work. Study trip to Paris: park, gardens and public spaces. Addressing  spatial and material conditions through models and maps. Reference lectures. Theoretical  discussions.   

03  Design phase. Individual/Group work. Formulation of project. Small scale design intervention.  Reference and Methodology lectures.  

Form of assessmentGroupingGrading scaleComment
Project assignmentIndividualPass / fail
Vurderinger:
Form of assessment:Project assignment
Grouping:Individual
Grading scale:Pass / fail
Comment:
Workload activityComment
Attendance
Individual supervision
Forventet arbeidsinnsats:
Workload activity:Attendance
Comment:
Workload activity:Individual supervision
Comment: