Landscape Design Studio –III: Affirming Identity through Design

“Our Gardens” engages students with the identity of design, through inquiries into the natural and cultural products of a complex urban setting. Each urban area has a ‘landmark garden’, that represents the sum of the area’s socio-cultural, sometimes ecological, identity and aspirations. This studio engaged with the landmark as perceived by the end user along with its natural context. Students imagined and crafted an identifiable and inclusive design for a ‘Landmark Park’. The studio was structured to allow students to explore the design process beyond mundane visual expressions and use it as a tool to strengthen local geo-cultural identities. It took its position at the intersection of ecological and anthropological systems. Each student chose an existing landmark park in an urban or suburban area around their current place of residence, with a view to connect people to the local natural rhythms through design expression. The design process incorporated local phyto-geographic rhythms of nature and attempted to connect them to user experience through physical activity and socio-cultural rituals.