FOCAL AREA :: CULTURALLY-BASED PLACE MAKING

Culture plays a significant role in our perception, interpretation, and expression of place. Each place is the product of the interaction of cultural forces on natural environments. Over time, human cultures simultaneously adapt their natural environments to their needs and become adapted to the unique conditions in which they occur. These interactions create distinctive places that embody each culture’s functional needs and values.

Landscape architecture seeks to understand the fit between culture and the natural environment that is expressed in each place so that our design work may respond to the unique needs and values of each place. Landscape architects also play a significant role in the preservation and interpretation of historic and cultural landscapes.

Culturally based placemaking is a design philosophy and practice that recognizes the intrinsic worth of each human adaptation to the environment. In practice, its goal is to engage communities in decision-making at all stages of design work. We investigate the relationships between cultural values and place making in cities and urbanizing environments through design studios, construction and theory courses, and independent thesis studies.

Culturally based place making recognizes the importance of including the voices of individuals in design decisions. It is an intrinsically democratic approach to design that recognizes the value of all forms of diversity and diverse viewpoints.

We recognize the potential of powerful contemporary social, economic and technological forces to disconnect culture from place with the resulting sense of individual alienation and displacement. While we do not have singular answers to these problems, our approach to design attempts to consider and reconcile these factors in our work.

Classes and projects that address culturally-based place making:

LARCH 361 The Human Experience of Place
LARCH 362/590 Landscape Design in Urban Context
LARCH 402 Neighborhood Design - Winter 2003
LARCH 403 Cultural Landscape Studio
LARCH 503 Community Design Studio
LARCH 507 Landscape Art
LARCH 498 Special Projects offered on an occasional basis
LARCH 598 Special Projects offered on an occasional basis
LARCH 590 Cultural Landscape Preservation Seminar